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This week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center
for the week of January 22 -28th, 2005.
Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip held their first-ever municipal elections Thursday, with candidates for the Hamas party making a strong showing. Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian President, has sent thousands of Palestinian security forces into the north of the Gaza Strip, while continuing negotiations with Palestinian resistance groups. And Israeli invasions and occupation have continued, with several killed, including a three year old child and a 16 year old.
Eight Palestinians have been killed this week, 19 wounded, and at least 54 arrested including Khader Abu Abbara, head of the Arab Orthodox Club in Beit Jala, in at least 32 separate invasions of Palestinian towns.
On Tuesday, an explosive left by the Israeli army went off near two children playing in the West Bank City of Ramallah. Marwan Ghaleb Abu Alawi, 13, died of his wounds on Friday, while Saleh Daoud Abu Alawi, 11, who was also injured in the blast, remains in critical condition.
A three-year old girl was shot and killed in her home in Dir Al-Balah, Gaza, Wednesday morning when Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian homes.
Wednesday night in Khan Younis refugee camp, Israeli soldiers broke into dozens of homes near the Tuffah crossing and conducted military searches.
Thursday afternoon, Israeli soldiers fired at dozens of homes in Bloc “O” in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip moderately wounding two residents.
Thursday evening, Israeli soldiers shot and killed Abdul-Mo’ty Thaker, 30, a mentally-disabled man from Al-Boreij refugee camp, at Al-Shuhada junction, near Netzarim settlement. Thaker is the fifth handicapped person to be killed by Israel this month.
Also on Thursday, a Palestinian political prisoner died and several others were injured when a fire broke out in their unit at Majeddo prison in Israel.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority's plan to deploy 2-3 thousand Palestinian policemen in the southern parts of the Gaza strip has been postponed due to difficulties at Israeli military check posts. The Israeli military in the central Gaza Strip refused to allow the transfer of equipment and arms, therfore, plans to deploy the police force were halted.
an Israeli source said that the delay was also related to ongoing attempts by the Israeli army side to convince settlers living illegally in the area not to attack the Palestinian police force.
on wednesday, a group of settlers clashed with palestinian police deployed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Also Wednesday, Israeli settlers slashed tires and broke windows of the cars of Palestinian Authority officials who were meeting with Israeli officials to negotiate the transfer of power.
the Israeli army has so far refrained from resorting to force to push back settlers, 7,500 of whom are currently living illegally on 20% of the Palestinian Gaza Strip. 1.2 million Palestinians live in the remaining 80% of the 360 sq km Strip, the most densely populated place on earth.
In the Palestinian West Bank, the Israeli army invaded Qalqilia on Wednesday, killing one 18-year old and wounding three teenagers who were driving in a car. An army vehicle rammed the car of teenagers, and opened fire, claiming that the driver of the car was 'wanted' by Israeli security.
Mohamed Atar of Qalqilia:
The town of Siada in the West Bank has been under complete closure for the last four days. Residents are unable to leave their homes, and many have run out of food and water. No explanation has been given by the Israeli army for the ongoing incursion in Siada -- no arrests or injuries have been reported
In Huwwara, south of Nablus, Palestinians have been under attack by Israeli settlers living illegally in the area, after the Israeli army left the area last week. Farmers were attacked by settlers on Wednesday while they were planting their land near Yetzhar settlement, which was erected on land confiscated from the villagers.
Early this week the Israeli government released the content of a high court ruling made last July that would implement the 'Absentee Property Law' over East Jerusalem, effectively annexing half of Palestinian East Jerusalem for the state of Israel.
Elias Basir is a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem:
The construction of the Israeli annexation wall continued this week throughout the Palestinian West Bank. The wall, which has been ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice in the Hague, will annex 50% of the Palestinian West Bank for Israel when it is completed.
Itadel Mamer is a resident of Battir, near Jerusalem:
Judeh Jamal, the executive director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee:
On Friday, an Israeli soldier gave testimony to the Israeli 'Breaking the Silence' organization that army medical teams used bodies that had been killed by the Israeli army for an anatomy lesson.
“The doctor in command pronounced the man dead and then took out a knife and began to cut off parts of the body," the soldier said. He continued, "I didn't say anything because I was still new in the army. Two of the medics moved away, and one of them threw up. It was all done very brutally. It was simply contempt for the body.”
Israeli army officials, while saying they were unaware of this allegation, have in the past been accused of taking bodies of Palestinians that have been killed by the Israeli army and using them for organ donation, with no attempt to notify or ask the families of the victims. This week, when 16-year old Ahmad Amer Al-Masry, from Wadi Gaza, was killed near Karni Crossing in Gaza on Tuesday, his family had no way of knowing what had happened, as the Israeli army took Al-Masry's body after shooting him and held the body until Friday.
In Washington, the Bush administration has formed a 'quartet' to deal with Israel and Palestine, including newly appointed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and State Department diplomat David Walsh.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield on Thursday called Israel to stop construction of illegal settlements on Palestinian land. Such calls in the past have never been adhered to by Israel, and have never been followed by any reduction of aid by the U.S. government.
Despite the ongoing attacks, many Palestinians are hopeful that Abbas will be successful in his negotiations with Israel for a Palestinian independent state. Maha Saca is the director of the Palestine Heritage Center:
This report has been brought to you by the International Middle East Media Center, imemc.org, in Beit Sahour, Palestine.
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