Israeli forces escalate measures in Hebron; Sharon, Mofaz call for intensifying settlements

The Israeli occupation forces yesterday escalated their aggressions against the Palestinian cities, towns and villages in the West Bank and Gaza, especially against the city of Hebron.

Supported by the Israeli army, more than 800 Israeli settlers attacked houses of the Palestinians in Hebron and opened fire and also burnt several trade shops, while the Israeli soldiers broke into one Palestinian house and converted it into a military barrack. The Israeli forces demolished three houses under the pretext that its owners resist the Israeli occupation.

The Israeli forces also blocked the Israeli- Palestinian liaison office, confiscated its content and converted several Palestinian houses to military barracks and deployed military barriers in the streets of Hebron., whereas armed Israeli settlers brought in several tents and caravan houses to the site where the Hebron operation was carried out two days ago and announced the foundation of a new Israeli settlement.

Meantime, the Israeli Apache planes bombarded the city of Khan Younis and this resulted in wounding four Palestinians and destroying the main electricity relay station and two smith workshops, while the Israeli forces demolished three Palestinian houses in Balatah camp and other five houses in the West Bank under the pretext that its people resist the Israeli occupation.

The Israeli police found one Israeli settler stabbed in one of the public squares in Tel Aviv and three explosives went off near Israeli military positions in al-Haretheyah and Toulkarem.