Israeli continues bombardment of Palestinian houses, destroying plants
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/5/2001

The Israeli occupation forces continued escalation of their aggressions against the Palestinian people, and they bombarded the residential areas, demolished houses and bulldozed fruit trees and above all permitted settlers to build new building for settlement. The Israeli army on Thursday at dawn opened fire against Palestinian houses and aggregations near Goush Kateive and Natsareim settlements in Gaza and this resulted in new casualties among the Palestinian citizens.

Palestinian sources said that Israeli army intensified its oppressive measures against the Palestinians and prevented them from movement inside the areas and cities of Gaza strip.

Earlier the Israeli army separated the Gaza's north part from its south by tanks and armored vehicles. A situation which deprived thousands of Palestinian students, employees and workers from going to their work and schools.

Israeli military positions near Natsareim settlement were exposed to the Palestinian stones and fire. Also underwent to the Palestinian attacks was an Israeli position near Goush Katieve settlement in the Gaza strip but no mention was given to the casualties inflected on the Israeli side.

Israeli military sources said that some 300 Israeli settlers broke into Palestinian lands around Ramullah at the crossroad of Beit Ele settlement in the West Bank. The settlers were supported by the Israeli army carrying new equipment to establish a new settlement During the two past days, the Israeli occupation forces arrested two sons for the commander of the Palestinian police in Hebron ( al-Khalil) Tareq Zeid under the charges of being members in the palestinian Fatah Movement in the West bank.

The Israeli authorities also detained two Palestinians from Abu Senan village of the territories of 1948.

Concerning political contacts, the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak on Thursday renewed his rejection to sign a document which states the transfer of sovereignty over the al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.

He added in press statements that he had confirmed this matter during his recent telephone call with the US President Bill Clinton.

For his part the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has expressed his hope to reach a final agreement with Israel before Clinton will quit his post.

Arafat explained to journalists upon his return back to Gaza coming from Cairo that he hopes so in light of the pledge vowed by the American President Bill Clinton to exert all possible efforts before the end of his term of office.

Arafat refused " indirectly" to answer a question on his recent decision over accepting ( with reservations) the proposals made by President Clinton.

On the other hand, the director of Barak's office Jalaad Sheir arrived on Thursday in Washington to learn from President Clinton on the details of the answer given by Arafat over the recent American proposals.

The Israeli radio said that the mini Israeli cabinet has approved to set up a tripartite mechanism composed of the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the US in order to end the escalation of the palestinian Intifada.

It was learnt that the Israeli minister of tourism Amnoun Shahak will preside over the israeli side in this joint mechanism.

Meantime, a source at the Fatah movement in the occupied lands said that the Palestinians will not stop their uprising against the Israeli occupation and that they will not abide by orders might be made by various sides of they state to halt the Palestinian Intifada.

The source stressed that the recent American proposals concerning the resumption of negotiations will not deceive the Palestinians if these proposals would be able to deceive certain Palestinian leaderships.

Previous Stories:
  Israel closes Rafah crossing, the Jordan valley   (1/3/2001)
  Three Palestinians killed, Israel opens fire on diplomats in Khan Younis   (12/22/2000)
  Settlement could be reached before Clinton's departure from White House   (12/21/2000)

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