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Chronicling the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict October 27, 2006 Jerrold Cohen, Ph.D., Editor E-mail jerrmar2@verizon.net Receiving This Newsletter Purpose of this Newsletter [Maps and graphics not included in this web re-publication of the newsletter] October 27, 2006 Reports IIncursions, invasions, arrests, demolitions, etc. Gaza Strip: An Israeli F-16 warplane flattened the two-story home of Shadi-Al-Areeni in the Jabaliya Refugee Camp at dawn. Al-Areeni is a member of the Qassam Brigades (Hamas). The Israeli command called him to evacuate his house a quarter hour before the raid, which made it impossible for him or his family members to salvage anything of the house belongings. (8) At the same time, Israeli helicopters fired heavily at residents' houses in the al-Shujaya neighborhood east of Gaza City, "causing a considerable amount of damage, and panic, medical sources reported." (11) West Bank: Israeli troops raided the village of Yamoun (about 5 kilometers east by northeast of Jenin) before dawn, and stormed residents houses. Residents reported that troops surrounded several homes and "unleashed heavy fire without warning or explanation." One resident said that forces opened fire on his home, leaving his entire family in a state of panic. Three young men were shot, and a nearby hospital reported that all three were being treated for severe blood loss and shots to the chest and feet. At the time of the report the source said that one of the young men was in serious condition, and undergoing surgery. (6) IMEMC gives greater detail. "Using the sniper posts set up in people's homes, the army opened fire onto the Abu Hassan family, eyewitnesses reported. Ra'ef Hassan Abu Hassan, 22 and his brother Mohammed, 38, were both injured, sending their families into a state of panic. Their third brother Ahmed rushed outside to call an ambulance and obtain medical help, only to also be struck down by a sniper fire. An army tank then fired a missile, hitting his car, resulting in his death and damage to surrounding cars and buildings." Overnight, Israeli forces raided the Fara Refugee Camp near Jenin (this camp is two thirds of the way to Nablus on a circuitous road that goes southeastward from Jenin, and then swings southwest to Nablus. The camp is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Tubas.) Troops said they were looking for young men planning attacks on army patrols. They killed Fadi Abdul Subh, 24, and Mustafa Jabr, 17, both members of the Saraya al-Quds Brigades, and arrested Hazim Hamoud Awad, 19. (1) PIC says that there was stiff resistance at Yamoun village and the Fara Refugee Camp by the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (Fatah) and the Quds Brigades (Islamic Jihad). (6) IMEMC states that the two Palestinians killed were throwing stones, and an undercover unit ambushed them from behind. Hazim Awad was injured in his left leg before being arrested by the Israeli army. (10) Here is the IDF version: "(07:21 27/10/2006) In Far'a, northeast of Nablus, a group of Palestinians, two of them armed with a handgun and a hatchet, were identified approaching the soldiers in an apparent attempt to attack them. The Soldiers fired at the two armed men. As a result, the gunman was killed and the man wielding the hatchet was lightly injured. He was treated by the forces and evacuated to receive further treatment in an Israeli hospital. He will later be taken for further questioning." (26) An Israeli army convoy invaded Jenin and its refugee camp, "conducting a wide scale search campaign of residents' houses. Scores of resistance were detained, interrogated on the spot and released." Three brothers were arrested. The army also invaded Kufor Dan village west of Jenin, "opening random fire, after which they left the village." (10) 0640 hours: Israeli troops arrested four wanted Palestinians throughout the West Bank overnight Thursday. The Jerusalem Post alleges that one was a senior Islamic Jihad operative. (19) Israeli soldiers arrested a Palestinian farmer working in his olive grove near Hawara south of Nablus. The soldiers claimed the man tried to attack a settler who approached the grove. (27) Israeli government "The Israeli government has endorsed IOF plans to bomb alleged tunnels along the Gaza borders with Egypt using the so-called "smart bombs", according to Hebrew media reports." (Wikipedia defines them as self-guiding weapons intended to maximize damage to the target while minimizing collateral damage.) Ha'aretz pointed out that the plan was to bomb "relatively isolated spots" along the borders "with strict orders not to cross into Egyptian territory." (7) Lebanon The Russian Defense Minister said that Russia would be sending a peacekeeping force to Lebanon in coordination with the Lebanese government, to act independently of the UNIFIL force in the region. The Russian Defense Minister claimed that UNIFIL did not have the ability to disarm Hezbollah as demanded by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. (18) Palestinian government Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, head of the higher Islamic authority in occupied Jerusalem, addressing his Friday congregation in the Aqsa Mosque, warned that internal strife among Palestinians could lead to bloodletting among Muslims, which is forbidden in Islam. He believed that a fifth column and agents were inciting strife in the streets. "The Sheikh blessed the recent agreement between Fatah and Hamas Movements to ban defamation, escalation or fighting, and added that any violator should be prosecuted by both parties." A very large majority of Palestinians in a recent poll believed that Mahmoud Abbas was involved in the international siege on the Palestinian people to punish them for electing Hamas, and a much smaller minority believed otherwise. (4) Dr. Mohammed Awad, PA government secretary, said the Palestinian national unity government was imminent. All factions were in intensive consultations to form the government. The media have essentially accused Abbas of endorsing a plan to organize riots in the Palestinian territories starting Saturday, after which he would declare a state of emergency informed of government. (5) Khaled Mashaal, Hamas political bureau chief, is to arrive in Cairo Saturday to discuss the Egyptian proposal for releasing Corporal Gilad Shalit and forming a coalition government with Fatah. If the meeting goes smoothly, representatives from Fatah and Hamas, and Syria and Spain, are to meet in Damascus to further discuss forming the unity government. EU foreign policy coordinator Javier Solana is interested in helping from the government. (12) Dr. Mohammad Awad, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Ministers Council, sees a national unity document happening soon, and a government based on that document coming soon. He stated that he does not believe that President Abbas would run interference. The government and the president had held talks and agreed that escalation would be outlawed and met by force. (14) Palestinian lawlessness An Israeli Arab man and his wife were returning from a family visit to relatives in Beit Lahia when unidentified gunmen opened fire at him. The wife was shot in the foot and slightly injured and the husband was abducted. "The kidnapping appeared to have been related to a family feud..." (23) Palestinian prisoners "Israeli prison authorities have begun carrying out near daily raids on prisoner cells in Nafha Prison in the Negev Desert. The raids are being carrying out under the pretext of searching for cellular phones and other banned materials." Prisoners at this and other prisons complain of course and cruel treatment by prison administration. Israeli prison authorities announced the release of Ali Humaydan, who has spent 14 months in prison, part in the Nafha prison. (2) The IMEMC account of conditions that the Negev detention center known as Ansar 3, is very similar to that of the account of conditions in the Nafha prison. Searches of prisoner belongings have been taking place on a daily basis. Prisoners find their period of detention extended within hours of the time they are supposed to be freed. (13) Palestinian resistance The peaceful protest march against the Wall in Bil'in on Friday was attacked by Israeli soldiers who shot teargas and sound bombs. Ibrahim Ghazi Beit-Ilo, 14, was hit with live ammunition in the upper body and taken to the hospital in Ramallah. Two Israeli protesters were arrested. At least four were injured, one hit in the ankle by a sound bomb, two cut in the forehead or face by shrapnel from an exploding sound bomb, and one cut in the foot by razor wire. Soldiers beat up several protesters with clubs. Protesters included Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. With Palestinian flags flying they marched behind village leaders from the Bil'in mosque to the Wall. Protesters placed ladders over razor wire and crossed into the next tier of wall fortifications, where they were attacked by tear gas and sound bombs. The lands that were seized from Bil'in are now the site of the Jewish Modin Illit settlement. (16) The Jerusalem Post reported that Bil'in protesters threw stones at security forces, lightly wounding two border policemen, who were treated at the scene. (17) There were about 350 activists at the protest. (25) 1225 hours: "Palestinian gunmen opened fire towards IDF troops at the Karni Crossing on Friday....No one was wounded in the attack." (20) 1539 hours: Palestinians fired four mortar shells at IDF troops north of Nahal Oz on Friday afternoon....No one was wounded and no damage was caused." (21) 1702 hours: "Two Qassam rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip into the town of Sderot on Friday afternoon. Both rockets landed in open areas and no casualties were reported." (22) Restrictions in movement Israeli forces at the Hawara checkpoint found a man in possession of a cell phone battery, and ordered the closure of the checkpoint to investigate. "After hours of waiting, an Israeli military explosives expert arrived and Israeli forces transferred the man in question to a detaining room. In addition to having to wait for the checkpoint to reopen, queuing Palestinians felt additional scrutiny in passing through security. Eyewitnesses told PNN that males were forced to undergo intrusive physical and material inspections....At the end of the order, Israeli forces decided to open fire on the cellular battery in front of the disgruntled waiting Palestinians, with the intent on safely exploding the device. To the amazement of the Israeli forces, no explosion occurred." (3) Settler activities "Palestinian medical sources reported on Thursday that two residents, including a child, and one international peace activist were injured when an extremist settlers' group attacked them while picking olives in Tal Romedia area, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank." The settlers came from the Ramat Yishai outpost. The activist was Danish. Several peace activists from Europe were helping the residents to pick their olives when the settlers threw stones and "sharp tools" at them. The activist was 23, and the Palestinians were 28 and 13, respectively. Soldiers in the area did not try to stop the settlers from carrying out their attack. The Al Farra family owns olive orchards near the Jewish settlement, and managed to get an order from the Israeli High Court allowing them to pick their olives. Hashim Al Farra said that when the family got to their orchards, they found that most of their olives had already been picked by the settlers. (9) Israeli soldiers stationed near the Israeli Har Homa settlement fired at several residents of Beit Sahour town near Bethlehem who were trying to pick their olives in Jabal Al Deek, near the Jewish settlement. "Soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition, gas bombs and rubber-coated bullets, no injuries were reported." Several farmers said that soldiers and guards of the Har Homa settlement repeatedly fired at them. trying to stop them from picking their olives. Israel is currently trying to annex Jabal Al Deek, which has 400 dunums (about 100 acres) of olive trees. Israel classifies this area as under Israeli military control, barring residents from building and construction there. (15) Miscellany "ALICANTE, Spain - Top diplomats from 11 countries bordering the Mediterranean will produce a new batch of proposals for reviving the Middle East peace process at a two-day meeting in Spain beginning Friday, a leading Spanish diplomat said." The group is called the Foromed group. Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos felt the road map to peace was not a suitable plan, it didn't provide all the answers, it wasn't strong enough, and he "urged the European Union to take the lead in pushing for a fresh approach." (24) ----------------------------- Samples of this newsletter may be found at http://aberdeenpublishing.com/ocreport.eml . That "eml" extension means that people with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express can see it. Others may not unless their programs recognize the "eml" extension. Links for buying my book, Awakened, may be found at http://aberdeenpublishing.com. -- Jerrold Cohen, Ph.D ----------------------------- Sources Palestine News Network
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