Sad Christmas in Bethlehem under the Israeli practices
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/26/2001

Sadness has prevailed on Bethlehem and other Palestinian cities because of the continued Israeli practices against the Palestinian people.

A large Israeli force reinforced by tanks and armed vehicles broke into Tammoun village to the north of Nablus and arrested seven of its citizens.

Meantime, the Israeli forces opened fire at the Palestinians near " Hazi Eil" settlement to the south of Hebron and the Palestinian resistance men retaliated by opening fire at an Israeli army patrol while passing in that area and this resulted in huge damages. The Palestinian resistance men also threw two bombs at an Israeli occupation patrol near the Egyptian- Palestinian borders in Gaza.

As Palestinian security sources disclosed the intention of the Palestinian authority to arrest persons suspected of assassinating former Israeli minister of tourism Rahb'am Zeifi, sources at the office of the Israeli prime minister Sharon said that the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat will not be permitted of leaving Ramullah unless he arrests those who " are accused by Israel" of assassinating Zeifi.

Meanwhile the Israeli defense minister Benjamin Bin Aleazer stressed that the decision preventing Arafat from heading to Bethlehem on Monday to take part in the Christmas celebrations was wrong.

On the other hand, and as Sharon announced consent to convene a meeting between the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres and the chairman of the Palestinian Legislative council Ahmad Qrei', the advisor for the chairman of the Palestinian authority (PA) Nabil Abu Rudinah said the PA gave instructions to Qrei' to continue political contacts with Peres. He explained that the higher committee for negotiations held a meeting under the chairmanship of Arafat and decided to continue these talks.

The Palestinian official in charge of planning and international cooperation Nabil Shaath said that the recent meetings between Qrei' and Peres constitute the beginning to breaking the attempts made by Sharon to concentrate during the negotiations only on what he called " the security aspect of the settlers" and ruling out the political solution.

Previous Stories:
  Israel continues its attacks against the Palestinians   (12/25/2001)
  The US, European state call on Israel to permit Arafat visiting Bethlehem   (12/25/2001)
  Israeli minister calls for expelling the Palestinians from the territories of 1948   (12/24/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search