Arafat calls on Fact-Finding Commission to accelerate mission in Palestinian territories
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/9/2000

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called on the Fact-Finding Commission to accelerate its visit to Palestinian territories in order to monitor Israeli violations against the Palestinian people.

A Palestinian official Thursday urged the Fact-Finding Commission, led by former US senator George Mitchell, to investigate the true causes behind the explosion of situation in the Palestinian territories.

Yasser Abd Rabu, Palestinian Culture and Information Minister, referred to Israel's massive savage practices against the defenseless Palestinians and their property.

He accused the Israeli government of breaching international agreements, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention on protecting civilians in time of war.

He warned of any Israeli bid to cripple the panel from undertaking its mission honestly and neutrally.

"Israel tried to put obstacles in the way of the Commission out from the minute it was formed to render it toothless or cosmetic," he added.

The Commission members will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Arafat during their daylong visit to the region on Monday, Radio Israel reported.

Israeli forces bombed Thursday evening Salem village, east of Nablus town in the West Bank, with heavy artillery and machine gun.

The shelling came in retaliation for an attack on an Israeli patrol near the village yesterday. Israeli forces sealed off all roads leading to the village and blocked entry to ambulances.

Israeli army cordoned off the village and stormed a number of houses in it, according to the village council chief.

A Palestinian youth died on Thursday after being shot by an Israeli in Beit Hanoun area. He died upon arrival to the hospital.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Palestinian died Thursday of wounds he sustained a week ago in clashes with Israeli soldiers.

Three Israeli settlers were seriously wounded in clashes that erupted between two armed Palestinians and an Israeli settler in Berta village in Nablus.

Following the clash, Israeli forces stormed the village with a large number of military patrols. They refuse to allow ambulances to enter the village though one of the residents is suffering from a brain clot.

Previous Stories:
  Two Palestinians killed, Israeli wounded   (12/8/2000)
  Intensive moves in UNSC for dispatching observers to West Bank   (12/7/2000)
  Palestinian uprising continues against occupation   (12/7/2000)

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