New Palestinian Prime Minister starts consultation; 20 new Israeli incursions
Palestine-Israel, Military, 3/21/2003

The newly appointed Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) in Ramullah on Thursday started consultations to form his government.

Each of Israel and the USA see in appointing Mahmoud Abbas as a precondition to revive the peace process.

Abu Mazin, who agreed on Wednesday to assume officially the post of the prime minister, still has three weeks to form his government. If he fails to do so within this time -- the period will be extended for two extra weeks.

On Wednesday, the White House for the first time welcomed "the measures taken by the Palestinian Authority." On Friday, the US President George Bush announced that the "roadmap" will be proposed to the Palestinians and the Israelis so as to be published immediately after the prime minister assumed his actual authorities.

On the other hand, a Palestinian security source said that the Israeli army incurred, backed by tanks, on Thursday at dawn in al-Maghazi camp for the Palestinian refugees in the downtown of Gaza, and demolished one house and arrested its owner.

The security sources said that the Israeli army backed by scores of tanks and armored vehicles escorted by bulldozers incurred for 2 kilometers into the Palestinian territories as from Natsareim settlement to the south of Gaza towards al- Maghazi camp where the tanks broke into the camp for hundreds of meters under a cover of Apache planes.

The source added that the Israeli army demolished several houses and arrested the Palestinian Murad Abu Rukab before his house was completely demolished by bulldozers after all citizens were taken out of their houses by force. The source said that the Israeli forces pulled out later.

Previous Stories:
  One Israeli settler killed, Sharon stress continued aggression against the Palestinians   (3/20/2003)
  Four Palestinians, one Israeli soldier killed near Bethlehem   (3/19/2003)
  Israel invades Beit Lahia, al-Nseirat camp, 12 Palestinians were killed   (3/18/2003)
  Israeli bulldozer kill American activist defending a Palestinian home   (3/17/2003)
  UN protests latest Israeli military assault on UN-managed school in gaza   (3/13/2003)
  UN dismayed by indiscriminate shooting of schoolgirl by Israeli forces   (3/4/2003)

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

Search