Israeli forces reoccupy Toulkarem, Qalqilya, Beit Jala and besiege the camps
Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/2/2002

The Israeli forces on Monday broke into the cities of Toulkarem, Qalqilya and Bethlehem, while the situation has been drastically deteriorating in Ramullah where corpses are in the streets and hospitals, can not be buried. More Palestinians were killed or wounded in a new Israeli bombardment by Apache planes missiles to several buildings in the city.

Nevertheless, the Palestinians continued deterring the Israeli invading forces and Israeli sources admitted that five of its soldiers are strongly wounded in Ramullah.

News reports said that the cities of Qalqilya and Toulkarem were exposed to intensive bombardment by planes and tanks before storming into them while the Israeli tanks and armored vehicles occupied al-Khuder and al-Doha towns after occupying parts of Bethlehem and Beit Jala and are preparing now to break into the camps of Toulkarem, Nour Shams, al-Ezza, Aida and al-Dheisha in Bethlehem district.

An Israeli military spokesman admitted wounding eight soldiers when a bomb went off upon breaking into one house in Qalqilya. One Palestinian was killed by the Israeli bullets in Ramullah during breaking in and inspection operations, while another was shot in Nablus ( Sayyah al-Khattari) and another 10- year old child in Rafah.

Meantime, the Israeli forces admitted that it has arrested more than 500 Palestinians only in Ramullah and also arrested tens of youths in the villages of Qalqilya following horrifying breaking in.

News reports said that five of the foreign peace advocates were wounded by the Israeli bullets during a demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians in Beit Jala.

Meantime, the Israeli war minister Benjamin Bin Aliazer stressed that his government decided to isolate Arafat inside his quarters in Ramullah. Bin Aliazer added: " we will not hesitate to arrest any Palestinian hiding in Arafat's office."

Meantime, the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon held a consultation meeting with his government in order to discuss the breaking in and occupation operations carried out in the cities of the West Bank. Sharon stressed that the few coming days will witness more military escalation operations against the Palestinians. He said that there are still 60 Palestinians wanted, who are hiding at Arafat's headquarters and the headquarters of Jibril al-Rajoub and we will kill all of them.

Other Israeli ministers called for the expulsion of the Palestinians and implementing the transfer policy in the west bank and Gaza especially as the international situation is convenient under an American understanding, according to the Israeli radio on Monday.

The radio added that the US General Anthony Zinni will not meet with any Palestinian official at this phase because he is so much upset by the Palestinian authority, as claimed by the radio.

On the Palestinian side, the Palestinian leadership said that the decision taken by the Sharon's government to totally isolate Yasser Arafat and cut all his contacts with the outer world unveil the real perpetuated Israeli intention to commit massacres and criminal acts against Arafat.

In a statement, the Palestinian leadership said that the Israeli invading forces cut completely water supply from the headquarters of Arafat in Ramullah, its suburbs and the surrounding villages. The statement called on the Arabs and the world countries and the UN to interfere immediately to prevent a catastrophe expected on Arafat and on the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian official responsible for the media also stressed that the Israeli aggressions against the Palestinians do not only receive complete support from Washington, rather full support at the highest level, noting that the Israeli military plan was arranged at a complete American- Israeli coordination during the visit of the US vice President Dick Cheney.

While armed Palestinians executed 11 Palestinians proved to had spied for the Israeli security forces who chase the Intifada activists, al-Aqsa martyrs groups vowed to challenge the Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinians and to continue resistance until the Palestinian territories are liberated. This vow was also confirmed by Abdul Aziz al-Ranteisi, one of Hamas key leaders. He said:" Martyrdom operations will be escalated against the Israeli occupation in light of the continued Israeli military siege of all Palestinian cities and villages."

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian militants killed 10 suspected informers   (4/1/2002)
  Arafat's elite guards executed by Israeli army?   (4/1/2002)
  Israel carries out carnage in Ramullah; 16 Israelis killed, wounded in operation   (4/1/2002)

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