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Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Thursday, February 25th, 2010.
Israeli Troops attack protests in the West Bank and invades areas in the Gaza Strip. These stories, and more, coming up. Stay tuned.
The News Cast
Children, Palestinian MPs and journalists were among those injured on Thursday during attacks by Israeli troops on the protests in Hebron city. Two Israeli nationals and one American were arrested by the Israeli boarder police forces during the crackdown on today’s protests in Hebron. Israeli boarder police and soldiers used tear gas, sound bombs and rubber-coated steal bullets to suppress the protests in Hebron.
One of the protests was organized by a local group called Youth Against Settlements in order to open al-Shuhada street in Hebron’s old city. Soldiers closed the street 10 years ago to stop Palestinians from passing near four illegal settlement outposts located there. Al-Shuhada connects the old city with the rest of Hebron.
Meanwhile Israeli troops attack Palestinians along with Parliament members who conducted a prayer near the Ibrahimi Mosque, in Hebron’s old city to protest Israel’s decisions to enlist two holy sites in the West Bank under the so called Jewish Heritage National List. Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, a Palestinian MP, was among those injured near the Ibrahimi Mosque today.
‘We were all subjected to this tear gas, but the demonstration was successful, and it showed how resilient Palestinians are in defending their right and demanding the natural thing which is freedom. It’s not allowable to have apartheid in the 21st century.’
Over the week end Israel decided to enlist the Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the tomb of Patriarchs, in Hebron city and Bilal Mosque, in Bethlehem city, both in southern West Bank under the so called Jewish Heritage National List. The two sites are believed to be holy sites by Muslims, Jews and Christians. Israeli Jewish settlers control the two sites and restrict others access there.
In other news, twenty Palestinian civilians were detained by Israeli troops during military invasions targeting a number of West Bank communities on Thursday morning. Local sources reported invasions in Hebron and Bethlehem cities, in southern west Bank, as well as Jenin in the north. Eight residents were taken from Hebron while 12 others were taken during searches of homes in Bethlehem city, local sources added.
Elsewhere, Israeli tanks invaded areas in northern Gaza Strip on Thursday afternoon. Witnesses said that tanks opened fire at nearby farm lands and homes. No injuries in the attack 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 Ghassan Bannoura.
