**************** HEAR PALESTINE ***************** Sunday, 19 August 2001 ----------- EVENTS Correction: yesterday, August 18, HearPalestine reported incorrectly that 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack on the residential area of Khan Yunis in Gaza. 1 Palestian was killed, while 10 were injured. *PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN KILLED IN SALFEET* Medical officials reported today that Salfeet resident, Mu’in Lawi,38, was shot and killed by live ammunition in the neck. *PALESTINIAN BOY KILLED IN RAFAH* Muhammed Abu Arar, 14, was shot and killed by a burst of live fire in the chest in front of his home in Rafah at noon today. Occupation forces opened fire on homes in al-Barazil quarter in Rafah. *HEAVY MILITARY ATTACK IN JENIN * Israeli occupation forces today opened fire at the town of Tayaseer in Jenin. Several homes and buildings were damaged, including the local school, which, according to witnesses, was also subjected to an unsuccessful missile attack. Witnesses reported that occupation forces drove of farmers attempting to reach their land today. *SIX INJURED IN LATE NIGHT ATTACK ON KHAN YOUNIS AND BETOUNIA* A total of six Palestinians were injured last night in al-Qarara area, east of Khan Younis, and Betounia near Ramallah, during Israeli shelling of two security locations. The injuries were described as between moderate and severe. Israeli occupation forces also opened fire on the al Nasawi quarter of Khan Younis last night damaging several homes. In Betounia, a Force 17 location was attacked. One civilian was injured in the head and a Force 17 officer injured by shrapnel in the shoulder. According to official Palestinian sources, Israeli tanks fired missiles at a Palestinian national security location in al-Amal quarter at noon today. Three civilians were injured in the attack. The location was destroyed. *TWO INFANTS CRITICALLY INJURED IN ISRAELI ATTACKS YESTERDAY* In yesterday’s shelling on al-Tuffah military roadblock residential surroundings, west of al-Namsawi quarter, in Khan Younis, a two and a half month old Palestinian baby was critically injured by missile shrapnel. The infant suffered from critical head injuries and remains hospitalized. Two civilians were injured by shrapnel in the same attack, including a 14 year old boy. One civilian, Issa al-Lahham was injured with two bullets in the stomach in al-Amal quarter. Seven youths were also injured at the Egyptian borders in Rafah, one reportedly in critical condition. Occupation forces had claimed on Israeli radio that the attack targeted a Palestinian military unit. In Nablus, a 6-month old baby was shot in the stomach three times when Israeli forces opened fire on a taxi near an Israeli military roadblock at Sura village, west of Nablus. The infant’s mother, Ni’ma Ouda, 29, said that she was sitting in the back seat with her child between her arms while the driver stopped awaiting the soldiers’ instructions to move, when the taxi was fired on. The family was returning from Nablus to their village of Baqat al-Hatab. *TWO ISRAELIS INJURED YESTERDAY NEAR JERUSALEM* An Israeli youth and a child were injured yesterday when a bus was fired at near Jerusalem. Israeli radio reported that the incident occurred between ‘Pisgat Ze’ev’ and ‘Nabi Ya’kob’ settlements. *ISRAELI ATTACKS IN CLOSED PALESTINIAN TOWNS CAUSE INJURIES* Nablus Israeli occupation forces fired at four Palestinian civilians. The incident occurred near an Israeli occupation roadblock near Araq Borin village, when residents attempted to cross the roadblock on foot. An elderly resident, Muhammed Qatr, 56, from Madama village, was injured earlier this morning when occupation forces opened fire on a back road between Tel and Borin villages. At dawn, another civilian, Muahmmed Khalil, 47, from al-Sawiya village was injured when occupation forces fired a stun grenade directly at him . Hebron Witnesses reported that occupation military reinforcements were placed in al-Fahs area south of Hebron. Four tanks, 6 armored vehicles and a bulldozer were reportedly moving towards the area. Witnesses reported that Palestinian land was bulldozed and a cement factory was destroyed. Occupation forces had previously occupied a home in Zif/Yatta area, belonging to Ali Shatat. Tulkarem Israeli occupation forces closed and destroyed a number of agricultural roads in Kufr al-Labid, constructed. An Israeli bulldozer under the protection of soldiers cleared and demolished the area. New road blocks were placed on roads leading to several villages and agricultural land. Israeli occupation forces raided homes in Izbat Nasserm Izbat Jarad and al-Sawana areas near the town of Tulkarem conducting extensive searches. A tank and four armored vehicles were placed at the southern entrance of Izbat Jarad and a hill overlooking Izbat Nasser. Occupation forces deployed throughout the area’s farmland. A large number of occupation forces also raided Far’oun village and established a military roadblock in the center, checking the inhabitants’ identity cards. Israeli forces set up patrols on the by pass road south of Tularem and along al-Kufrayat junction, preventing inhabitants from crossing and attacking several of them. Salfeet Israeli occupation forces arrested two brothers, Aziz and Mousa Asi, yesterday evening near Nabi Elias village, and took them to an unknown location. Jenin A Palestinian woman gave birth at an Israeli military roadblock near Salem in Jenin yesterday when occupation forces prevented her from reaching the hospital. The Israeli imposed military closure on Jenin and surrounding villages was reinforced today by additional military units. Head of Tamoun municipality, Bshara Beni Ouda, said that the complete closure of the town has caused a severe water shortage and problems in the electrical grid. Occupation forces based at the military checkpoint near al-Aram village in Ya’bid used knives to puncture car tires. Ramallah Two Israeli units closed the main road linking Ramallah and al-Latron villages west of Ramallah. Residents were searched and denied passage. ------------- POLITICS ------------- *PALESTINIAN SOURCES: NO NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE OPENING OF ‘ORIENT HOUSE’ AND WITHDRAWAL FROM JERUSALEM* Ahmad Qrea. Head of the Palestinian Legislative Council continues to refuse to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. The source said that Qrea’ explained to Peres that Palestinians reject meetings until the Sharon’s government reopens and withdraws from the Orient House and other Palestinian institutions in Abu Dis. The source implied that there were signs of a possible Israeli withdrawal from the areas in the coming days. *PERES CLAIMS ON-GOING PHONE MEETINGS WITH PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL HAVE STARTED* Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said yesterday that he had begun phone meetings Palestinian National Authority officials and did not rule out the possibility of meeting with Authority President Arafat. On another front, the legal advisor for the Foreign Ministry, Allen Bikir said that Israel is exerting political and diplomatic efforts on the international level to prevent decisions against it in the UN Security Council. *PERES CLAIMS THAT CALLS WITH PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL HAVE STARTED* Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said yesterday that he had began calls with Palestinian National Authority officials, claiming that he does not eliminate the possibility of meeting with President Arafat. On another front, the legal advisor for the Foreign Ministry Allen Bikir said that Israel is exerting political and diplomatic efforts on the international level to prevent decisions against it in the Security Council. --------------- FEATURES --------------- *ISRAELI MILITARY DOGS COME FIRST AT AL-TUFFAH CHECKPOINT* By I’tida Qanita-Munir AbuTas Raya hesitated. What could she do to make her 7 month old baby stop crying under the intense sun at the Al-Tuffah road block? She has tried everything from covering the child’s head to shielding her against her chest while enduring the endless wait at the checkpoint. Palestinian travellers are unable to cross today, because, as a soldier declared over a loudspeaker, the military unit’s dog must finish his lunch. Just another day of delay and frustration for residents who must make their way through the Al-Tuffah checkpoint at the al-Mawasi area in the Gaza Strip Al-Mawasi is situated south west of Gaza on the Mediterranean sea, bordered by Deir Balah and Egypt and is considered a yellow area which falls under Palestinian civil control. Raya, mother of 7-month old Fatima, explains that she is regularly forced to wait for hours at the roadblock under the afternoon sun, despite the cries of her daughter. “If my head is about to explode from the heat,” she says, “ how do you think a little baby, ill to boot, feels?” This is Rava’s weekly test of endurance as she carries her baby to Khan Younis for medical treatment. Young Fatima has a congenital disorder preventing her normal growth. Prompt treatment is so urgent that she also must run the risk of leaving her other children at home alone. “One minute my heart aches for my young children at home alone and and the next I cry for my sick baby, who has to melt under the sun while the dog eats his lunch”. Suddenly a soldier’s loudspeaker crackles as he warns Al-Mawasi residents “I will teach you how to respect the system and the law. No one will pass for an hour.” Rava rages in the sweltering heat. “Where are the Arab states? Where are those who claim good intensions and ceasefire? Let them come and witness the suffering and injustice that we experience at the hands of occupation forces, who decide the future of our children as they like.” she said. “Right now, he says he is closing the road to teach us a lesson and later the dog will have dinner while we sit under the sun as punishment.” “Finally, when we cross the metal gate we will be searched and that scary mutt will follow us and sniff at us and growl. It’s up to the dog if we’re allowed to pass.” “Sometimes the dog goes crazy and starts barking and scares the children. If the dog suspects you and your belongings, you are in trouble and an emergency situation is declared, a security closure is imposed immediately and occupation forces and explosive experts start moving in. They subject you to a humiliating search I can’t put into words…in the end, they find nothing. Nawal al-Farra, 50, can’t take the pain in her waist and shoulder any longer and tosses her childrens’ lunch on the ground, balancing herself on her knee with the palm of her hand. She sits on a rock, exhausted after hours of standing under the sun. “Since my husband died two months ago, I have to cross this roadblock just to provide food for my family since there is none in the Al-Mawasi area. Last week, I bought chicken for my children, because I promised them and god knows how I saved up money to do that, but the chicken was rotten by the time I got it home. The same thing will probably happen today to the meat I’ve bought,” she said. She takes a deep breath and continues, “The Israeli soldiers claims that the number given to me and registered in my identity card, which is the number to enter al-Mawasi area, is wrong despite the fact that I am registered as al-Mawasi resident. This happened to a lot of the others and so we must wait for hours. How should I to know it’s the wrong number, isn’t the soldier the one that wrote it in the first place? Our destiny depends on that number. We have become numbers, one set for refugees, one set for Al-Mawasi residents.” Away from the heat of the sun and the crowd sits Um Muhammed, 48. “What kind of a life do we live?” she asks “If I wanted to go to Egypt, I would have been there by now, but my home, only meters away, I cannot reach. What kind of injustice is this?” “I lost my husband years ago and have two children, one of whom is handicapped. We have been subjected to the injustice of the occupation for years. My home’s roof has become like Swiss cheese due to the intensity of the daily shooting at al-Mawasi homes. Even the sea, our only breather in this heat, is closed. Settlers have confiscated the whole beach.” Um Muhammed added, “A week ago I went to the market to buy some groceries and half a kilo of meat. After waiting for five hours in the heat at the checkpoint the meat reaked so bad I had to throw it away before getting home. We are deprived from the most basic rights. We only get water and electricity from 5pm to midnight three times a week. Most of the time the water’s bad and undrinkable.” “This is our life,” she says looking out across the hot road at her neighbors waiting at the checkpoint. ------------------ SOLIDARITY ------------------ - A demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people was carried in Bonn, Germany, as well as sit ins in several other cities. - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein allocated $15,000 to the families of every Palestinian martyr. - South Africa: Muslims to march for Palestine in Cape Town August 21 Friends of Orient House in East Jerusalem Urgent Appeal The occupation of the Orient House and the closure of seven other Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem has not only deprived poor and underprivileged people from their humanitarian services, but also put Occupied Arab Jerusalem under great political and economic stress. The institutions that were closed, headed by Orient House, provided the poorest segments of society in East Jerusalem with financial and other forms of support directed to cover their health, social, housing, and legal needs, in addition to developmental needs to many community institutions. Orient House was also a venue for political, diplomatic and peace dialogue and an information center for many international agencies. To enforce their illegal act, the Israeli military authorities have put many parts of East Jerusalem under a state of siege, preventing people from getting to their jobs, neither could tourists and visitors, the main economic vehicle in the City, reach it today. More than ever before, especially after the death of Faisal Husseini, Orient House founder and leader, people and institutions in Arab Jerusalem are in need of your support. The Friends of Orient House, a recently established Action-oriented Group, together with other institutions such as the Friends of East Jerusalem Hospitals, decided to campaign against the illegal Israeli action of closing Orient House and to offer support, by all possible means, to people and institutions in East Jerusalem negatively affected by the closure of Orient House and other organizations. Your support to our campaign will have a direct role on the human, political and institutional survival of Palestinians in Arab Jerusalem. You can support us by: 1. Adding your name to Orient House Supporters List (send us an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]). We will then, as much as the circumstances allow, keep you informed of what we do and how you can help further. Make sure that you circulate this appeal as wide as possible. 2. Sending us a donation directly to the Arab bank account (details below) or using Friends of East Jerusalem Website (www.fejh.org) to send a donation using your visa card. Please send your donations to the following Bank account: Orient House Appeal C/o Friends of East Jerusalem Hospitals Arab Bank Al-Balad Branch, Ramallah, Palestine (Bank Swift ARABPS22090) Account number: 662018/3 This time, your support is very much needed and will make a real difference! P.O. Box 20479, Jerusalem [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------- Hear Palestine is a free press service offering daily mailings from the occupied Palestinian territories. Material is analysed and compiled from the Arabic press, radio and television transmissions, and direct interviews by Karma Abu-Sharif. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To browse and search the press archive, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HearPalestine/messages For more information, please contact Karma Abu-Sharif at [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://al-awda.org/terminate_aid_petition.htm http://al-awda.org/terminate_israel_aid.htm ============================================================== To join Al-Awda action committees in your area, please visit the Join Us link at our website http://al-awda.org. ============================================================== To subscribe to Al-Awda News, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================== Unless indicated otherwise, all statements represent the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Al-Awda Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
