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Welcome to Palestine Today a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org for Wednesday July 20th, 2011
Palestinian slam a video by Israeli ministry of foreign affairs describing it as distortion of International law, meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit the Gaza Strip, these stories and more coming up, stay tuned.
Israeli air force gunships launched air strikes on two sites in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning.
The airstrike targeted Az-Zaitoun and Ash-Shujaiyeh neighbourhoods south of Gaza City causing massive structural damage, however no casualties among civilians were reported.
Israeli military said the airstrikes come in response to Palestinians firing home-made shells against Israeli targets in the southern part of Israel. Two home-made shells landed near Sderot in the Negev, Tuesday night, causing no damage or injuries.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces invaded the village of Talluza near Nablus on Wednesday morning and kidnapped two Palestinians.
The WAFA News Agency reported that 30 military vehicles invaded the village, and troops broke into houses and ransacked them, before they kidnapped Hussam Abu Shaqra 52 and his son Hazem, 28. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and were taken to unknown destination.
Local residents accuse the soldiers of stealing gold and other valuables from homes during the attack on their houses.
Rabah Salahat, a resident of the village, said soldiers stole gold belonging to his wife after raiding his home at 2.00 a.m. and forced his family outside, he said the stolen gold is worth around 4500 US dollars.
Israeli troops have also kidnapped Mohammad Zayed, 22 from Al-Yamoun village near Jenin and invaded a number Palestinian villages and towns since Wednesday dawn.
In the meantime, Palestine’s chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in a press release published Wednesday that a recently-released Youtube video by Israel’s Foreign Ministry shows that Israel is not interested in the peace process.
The video features Israeli Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon explaining the evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as animated illustrations appear behind him.
In the video, Ayalon denies the existence of Palestine and the Palestinians, and demands that the West Bank be called a disputed area, instead of occupied territories. Ayalon also said that all settlements Israel built in the West Bank are legal.
That’s rounds up the main news for today. Please join us again tomorrow for a summary of important events in the Palestinian Territories. You have been listening to Palestine Today from the International Middle East Media Centre. For more updates please visit our website at www.imemc.org. This report has been brought to you by Husam Qassis and me George Rishmawi
