Israel tighten siege measures, hold hundreds of people at check points

The Israeli occupation forces yesterday tightened the siege imposed on the cities and towns of the West Bank and Gaza and intensified its measures on check points which cut and divide the Palestinian areas, in contradiction to reports already published on alleviating siege measures and providing facilitation to the Palestinians.

Just on Sunday, the Israeli occupation forces announced, days from al-Aqaba meeting which will bring together President George W. Bush with the Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers measures to alleviate the siege of the Palestinian cities and to give work licenses to Palestinian workers as well as to release several Palestinian detainees.

The Palestinians doubted these measures and described them as a public relations announcement to deceive the public opinion.

Meantime, Palestinian medical and security sources said that three Palestinians were wounded by the bullets of the Israeli occupation forces in Beit Hanoun to the north of Gaza where the Israeli army demolished two positions for the Palestinian security. The medical source said that "three Palestinians were injured by the Israeli army including a teenager during confrontation between Israeli soldiers at the entrance of Beit Hanoun town to the north of Gaza and Palestinian youths who threw stones at the soldiers."