Three residents injured, two international activists detained in Hebron

Sunday March 29, 2009 03:42 by IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, reported Sunday that Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers attacked a peaceful protest against Israeli settlements in the Old City of Hebron, and demanding the army to reopen Al-Shuhada Street in the city; three residents were wounded, and two international activists were detained.

Al-Shuhada road was closed by the army after the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994. 

Arab member of Israeli Knesset, General Secretary of the Hadash Movement, Mohammad Barakah, Palestinian Legislator Sahar Qawasmi, member of the political bureau of the Palestinian People Party Afaf Ghatasha, member of the party’s central committee, Fahmi Shahin, and dozens of residents and peace activists, participated in the protest.

The protesters carried Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans against the settlements and the illegal Israeli policies. They also chanted for real peace in the region.  

The Israeli occupation terrorist army attacked the protesters near the illegal outpost of Beit Romano in the Old City. Soldiers attacked the protesters with clubs and rifle butts, and dragged a number of protesters in the ground; several protesters were injured.

Later on, the army cuffed two international peace activists and detained them at a nearby settlement while the settlers called for more attacks against the activists and the residents.

Medical sources at the Hebron Governmental Hospital stated that three residents received treatment who suffered cuts and bruises after being violently attacked by the soldiers.

The three are Fahmi Shahin, 47, member of the political bureau of the Palestinian People Party (PPP), Moussa Abu Hash-hash, 54, a researcher with the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem, and Azzam Al Jamal, an owner of the store in the area.

MK Barakah slammed that army for attacking the protest and said that the Old City in Hebron should be a closed zone for the settlers and the soldiers, and not for the indigenous Palestinian residents.

Barakah also called for boycotting the government of Benjamin Netanyahu until it recognizes the legitimate Palestinian rights and the two-state solution.

Furthermore, Barakah called on all factions to achieve a unity deal and to end all of their internal conflicts and divisions.

PPP’s central committee member, Sahar Al-Qawasmi, slammed the illegal Israeli measures and the closures in the Old City as the residents are under more restrictions while the illegal settlers have a free hand.     

Al-Quds claim attack on Israeli Special Forces in Khan Younis

Date: 29 / 03 / 2009  Time:  10:37

[Ma'anImages]

Gaza - Ma'an –

The Al-Quds Brigades, the militant wing of the Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for firing two explosive devices on an Israeli Special Forces unit attempting to invade Khan Younis.

The claimed attack, which could not be independently verified by Ma'an, occurred in the Khan Younis neighborhood of Khuza'a. The Brigades said in a statement that there were casualties among the soldiers, although Israeli sources did not report any.

Israeli occupation soldiers kidnap teenager at Nablus checkpoint

Date: 29 / 03 / 2009  Time:  10:22

[Ma'anImages]

Tulkarem - Ma'an -

Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers kidnapped a young man from the eastern Dhinnaba area of Tulkarem on Sunday. Soldiers reportedly seized the 17-year-old while he was passing through the Za'atra checkpoint south of Nablus. The detained teenager was identified as Abdullah Nabhan Odah.

Four Palestinians kidnapped near Ramallah

Date: 29 / 03 / 2009  Time:  09:54

Ramallah - Ma'an -

The Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers kidnapped four Palestinians from Al-Lubban village north of Ramallah on Sunday, according to the Israeli military.

Palestinian and Israeli activists, protest home demolitions in Jerusalem

Sunday March 29, 2009 02:36 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources reported on Saturday that approximately 150 Israeli Jews and international peace activists joined Palestinian Arab residents in their protest against the Israeli occupation terrorist government demolition of Palestinian homes in Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem.

The protesters called their rally “Jews and Arabs against house demolition”, Israeli Ynet News reported.

During their protest, the activists stopped by the ruins of a Palestinian house razed by the Israeli Authorities two weeks ago,

One of the protesters said that the family who lived in this house has no other place to live in, and added that even their furniture was buried under the rubble.  

 The Ynet added that Abdul Khaleq Shaloudi, one of the protesters, stated that the Jerusalem municipality issued in 2005 demolition orders against 88 Palestinian homes.,

 He added that the previous mayor of Jerusalem agreed to sit with the protesters and asked them to prepare a master plan. The meeting came after a protest tent was installed.

“We prepared the plan, we paid $77.000 out of our own pockets, but 40 days ago the Israeli Interior Ministry met with us and said it rejects the plan”, Shaloudi stated, “The ministry claimed that plan contradicts the policy of the municipality, and we installed our protest tent again”.

 Another activist accused Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat, of adopting the plans of the settlers who want to take over the neighborhood.

The Israeli occupation terrorist government continues to demolish Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, while its municipality keeps issuing more orders against Palestinian homes, while the settlers continue to occupy Arab homes in the city.

Recently, US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, urged the Israeli occupation terrorist government to stop the demolitions and described this issue as not helpful to the peace process.