IDF violence while Palestinians implement demands

IDF violence continues while Palestinians implement 'Quartet' demands

GUSH SHALOM - pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 - http://www.gush-shalom.org/

Press release, March 29, 2003

The Palestine Monitor (TPM) sent us today a report about what has happened already Thursday. The two Beit Hanoun policemen, shot in what seems to haave been a "preventive" IDF aggression, and their bleeding to death because ambulances were not allowed through - it is not "the latest news" and unfortunately it has become rather routine

TPM however places it in the light of the new Palestinian government being formed by PM Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) just as the diplomatic Quartet demanded. And apparently all Palestinian factions give it a chance. Remember the upbeat comments - not only from European leaders, but also from Bush and even Sharon had to pay lip-service.

However, the Israeli army - hardly-noticed because of the Iraq War - is daily sowing death and destruction. (Two days ago we already passed on the TPM report on the "liquidation operation" on a main road in a Bethlehem residential area, killing the ten-year old Christine Saidi'.)

And when some militant Palestinians will lose patience and start again to do the violent acts which they know to do best - then that will be the reason given for not yet withdrawing the Israeli army from the Palestinian cities.

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "Palestine Monitor"
To:
Subject: Israeli violence continues, despite Palestinian implementation of the 'Quartets' demands
Date sent: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 10:51:36 +0200

The Palestine Monitor

A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

UPDATE

Israeli violence continues, despite Palestinian implementation of the ‘Quartets’ demands

27 March 2003

At around midnight last night, approximately 20 Israeli military vehicles, with two apache helicopters for air support, invaded Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. Clashes ensued when the invading forces attacked a Palestinian police post. Two members of the Palestinian national security forces were shot and killed -- Iyad Khalil Fayed, 31 and Ehab Sayyed Jarris, 21.

According to Dr. Muawiya Hassenien, of the Shif’a Hospital emergency department, “the injuries were not serious, and these two policemen could probably have been saved had they received treatment in time. But the Israeli soldiers kept the injured men for some time, and prevented the ambulance from reaching them.” Six other Palestinians were injured in the attack, and Palestinians were taken from their homes and detained by the Israeli troops.

One of the apache helicopter fired missiles at a well which provided much of the areas water, destroying it completely; the invading forces also attacked electricity poles and water and sewage pipes, causing sever damage to the areas infrastructure.

In other Palestinian areas the situation remains the same – a draconian closure remains in place preventing the movement of people or goods, towns and cities come under random curfew, and soldiers arrest and detain people at checkpoints or during their ‘invasions’ into the cities.

At the same time, the Israeli Defense Ministry wants to further increase the Israeli expropriation of Palestinian land by moving the “security fence”, which has already taken large swathes of Palestinian land, east of several illegal West Bank settlements, so that an estimated 40,000 settlers and 3,000 Palestinians are included in the western, Israeli side of the fence. This came in the wake of the Israel announcement that the wall would also be built down the length of the Jordan Valley.

According to Mr. Andul Hadi Abu Khosa in Gaza, “what is particularly interesting about this latest attack, and the plan to further extend the Israeli’s Apartheid wall, is the timing. Currently the Palestinians are scrambling to implement the reforms demanded of them by the Americans. Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen” was last week appointed Palestinian Prime Minister, and financial reforms are also underway. Meanwhile the Israelis continue to take more Palestinian land, and occupy and attack the civilian population, destroy the economy, keep us imprisoned in our towns and villages, and breach the Geneva Convention on a daily basis – all without murmur of protest. It is astonishing!”

For more information contact: The Palestine Monitor +972 (0)2 298 5372 or +972 (0)59 387 087 http://www.palestinemonitor.org

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