Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 3 m 0s || 2.75 MB ||
Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Wednesday August 20th, 2008.

The Israeli army troops invaded west bank cities kidnapping 8 civilians, Meanwhile, Ehud Barak orders closure of Gaza’s borders, these stories and more, coming up, stay tuned.

The News Cast

Israeli army troops invaded the West Bank city of Hebron and launched a search campaign among houses kidnapping the total of 7 civilians among them a 12 year old child, all the kidnapped were taken to unknown detention centers.

The Israeli army often takes Palestinians prisoners without declaring reasons, and usually they are taken to detention centers inside Israel proper which are inaccessible to Palestinian, in violation of International Law.

Also in Hebron, a number of Israeli troops accompanied by military vehicles broke into Wan Fm; BBC and freedom radio stations in the city; troops detained employers and started ransacking the place leaving drastic damages behind, and confiscating a number of computers.

In Jenin, a number of military vehicles invaded the city, centered in the streets and shot gun fire at random. Troops searched and ransacked several houses causing damages; moreover, they kidnapped Ahmad Zaiad aged 22, and took him to an unknown detention camp.

In addition, the Israeli army invaded Bethlehem and a nearby village called El ‘badiah, military vehicles drove through several streets, searched and ransacked houses forcing civilians out of their homes.

Also, in Bethlehem Israeli troops tried to invade a municipality in the nearby Al Walaja village, Eye witnesses said the troops tried to enter the municipality building by force, but the security guards stopped them and as a result clashes occurred between both sides.

On a separate issue, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered commercial and humanitarian crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip closed on Wednesday morning after a homemade Palestinian shell was dropped at an Israeli territory on Tuesday night

The borders are to remain closed for two days and on Thursday Barak will decide on whether to keep it closed or reopen it again

The homemade shell landed in a field located nearby Sderot city. No injuries or material damages were reported.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today from the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org. This report has been brought to you by Rula Shahwan and Husam Qassis.