Two Palestinians shot by Israelis, houses demolished

Two Palestinians were shot on Monday by the Israeli soldiers at Soufa crossing to the east of Rafah in Gaza. One young Palestinian woman was seriously wounded near Mourag settlement to the south of Gaza, while more than 10 Palestinians were wounded when the Israeli forces were trying to storm into al-Nuseirat camp where violent confrontations took place between the Palestinian Intifada youths and the Israeli forces which destroyed a residential building at the entrance of the camp, while the Israeli forces demolished one house and four small workshops in al-Breij camp.

The Israeli forces also arrested scores of Palestinians in the cities of Nablus, al-Khalil and Qalqilya on charges of resisting the Israeli occupation. This was through a vast campaign of arrest and inspection during which furniture of the inspected houses was spoiled.

Meantime, an Israeli source said that one Israeli settler was killed on Sunday evening near Kreyat Moutskin settlement near Haifa. The Israeli radio quoted the source which it did not identify that a large force of the Israeli police is carrying out a large scale operation in that area.

On the other hand, a Palestinian official said on Monday that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon will meet with the secretary of the PLO executive committee Mahmoud Abbas within the few coming days. The Palestinian official gave no further details.

The Palestinian official who asked not to be identified explained that Arafat's economic advisor Muhammad Rasheed who has firm relations with Sharon's son arranged for the meeting between Abbas and Sharon.