Two Palestinians killed, closure of West Bank, Gaza; Arafat may foil Abu Mazin's government
Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/17/2003

The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has formed a committee of the officials of the Fatah movement to convince the designated prime minister Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) to give up nomination of three members from joining the government who are opposed by Arafat who loomed to topple the new formation at the Palestinian legislative council, dominated by Fatah.

A prominent Palestinian official said that Arafat has reservations on Hikmat Zeid, Muhammad Dahlan and Naser Youssef. Arafat had removed Zeid who had the post of the minister of agriculture from the government in 2002 while Dahlan resigned from the post of the leadership of the preventive security department in Gaza, The official added that Arafat asked the chairman of the legislative council Ahmad Qrei and the secretary general of the Presidium al-Tayeb Abdul Rahim, Hakam Bal'awi and Sakher Habash, members of the central committee of the Fatah movement to open consultation with Abu Mazin and to convince him of giving the three persons especially in the security part of the government.

An Israeli military spokesman said that the Israeli army yesterday totally closed the Palestinian territories of a percussion of Palestinian operations, while the Israeli police announced the state of utmost alert in the parts of Israel for the same reason. The Israeli military spokesman said "the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza will not permitted to enter Israel following warnings of aggressions prepared on Easter" which started yesterday. The Israeli army imposed a similar closure on the coasts and prevented fishermen from going to the sea. he said that this closure will continue to be valid until Sunday, at least.

On the other hand, Hamas accused Israel of assassinating one of its field leaders in Hebron, threatening to avenge the "continued crimes of the occupation."

An Israeli force incurred yesterday early morning in al-Jarfan area to the south of Yatta town in Hebron under a cover of Israeli helicopters. Clashes took place and resulted in killing Hassan Manasera ( 53 year old) one of the military leaders of Hamas in the city.

In Gaza, medical sources announced that a Palestinian youth ( 19 year old) died because of his wound from a missile fired by Israeli helicopters last week to the south of the city of Gaza.

Previous Stories:
  One Israeli officer, two Palestinians killed in clashes   (4/16/2003)
  PNA rejects Sharon's changes to Road Map, giving up right of return   (4/14/2003)
  Israeli soldiers shoot another ISM activist in the head   (4/14/2003)
  Israel kills two Palestinian civilians in Gaza and Hebron   (4/14/2003)

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