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HEAR PALESTINE
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Monday, 30 December 2002

NEWS
**Jenin: Teacher Killed in Cold Blood at Military Roadblock
**Nablus: Youth Killed during Israeli Military Invasion
**Gaza City: Occupation Soldiers Run Over Unidentified Man with Tank
**Rafah: Shelling and Israeli Plan to Demolish Hundreds of Homes
**Hebron: 2 Homes Demolished, Inhumane Oppressive Measures
**Bethlehem: Demolition and Confiscation Campaign, More to Come
**Tulkarem: Occupation Authorities Place New Settlement Caravans
**Jerusalem: Soldiers Severely Beat Up 2 Brothers, Steel their Money

FEATURES
**Khan Younis: Occupation Steels Hanin's Happiness
**Tulkarem: Occupation Soldiers Kill Child in Cold Blood
**Another Patient Dies, Prevented Access to Hospital
**Nablus: Occupation Soldiers Use Ambulance for Military Training!

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Sunday (29 December 2002)
11-year old Abdel Karim Salama from Tulkarem was killed on Sunday
with 2 live bullets in the head and chest fired by Israeli soldiers
while on his way back from school, which is located in the southern
quarter of the city. Another child, Atef Sharshir, was wounded with
live ammunition in the same location. Occupation soldiers arrested
yesterday morning the resident Ashraf Thib from Zita Village and who
works in Shweikeh suburb, Tulkarem.
Hussein al-Tamimi (57 years old) from al-Nabi Saleh Village,
northwest Ramallah, died last evening at an Israeli military
roadblock as a result of intentional delays at several military
roadblocks while on his way to hospital in Ramallah, suffering from
an emergency health condition.
In Nablus, a young man was critically wounded when an Israeli army
patrol opened fire in al-Makhfiya residential quarter in the city
yesterday evening.
In Rafah, occupation soldiers opened fire at the International
Popular Protection delegation, accompanied by a number of al-Mawasi
residents, members of the popular committee in Rafah and the Union
of Medical Work Committees, wounding a Palestinian journalist in the
head with live ammunition. Members of the international protection
committee and those accompanying them, headed yesterday morning
towards al-Mawasi military roadblock that separates al-Mawasi from
Rafah carrying slogans and medical supplies with an aim of breaking
the siege imposed on the area since the beginning of the Intifada
and to bring aid to the residents of al-Mawasi.
In Hebron, occupation bulldozers leveled new areas of land to the
east of Yatta Town, near the settlement road (60) that crosses
through the area. The occupation army cut 50 ancient trees from al-
Arroub agricultural station adjacent to the main Jerusalem-Hebron
road.
A curfew continues to be imposed on the residents of the Old City of
Hebron since mid last month.
In Jenin, the occupation army at dawn yesterday waged a wide-scale
campaign of home raids and searches in Jenin refugee camp, under
claims of searching for "wanted" people.
Heavy armored machinery invaded the city at dawn and withdrew in the
morning.
Local sources reported that at least 5 residents were arrested from
the refugee camp, after their homes were raided and their belongings
destroyed and members of their families forced out in the cold.
In Gaza Strip, the occupation army yesterday destroyed a boat in
Gaza City Sea and arrested two fishermen who were on board for no
reason.
On another front, Palestinian resistance fighters waged an armed
attack on an Israeli army patrol on the road leading to 'Netsarim'
settlement, south Gaza City. Occupation soldiers retaliated by
firing machine gun bullets and missiles.

Saturday (28 December 2002)
11-year old Hanin Abu Suleiman was killed Saturday night in the
Israeli military attack that targeted al-Namsawi residential
quarter, west Khan Younis. Occupation soldiers based in 'Neveh
Dkalim' settlement, established on Palestinian land west of the
city, waged a wide-scale attack on the residential quarter with
heavy machine gun fire. Hanin was targeted with a heavy bullet in
the head and died almost straight away.
In Hebron, the occupation army demolished 2 homes in Doura Town,
south Hebron, and imposed a curfew on the city. 10 residents were
wounded with live and metal bullets in Hebron and Doura, as the
occupation attempted to enforce the curfew.
The occupation army also carried out a campaign of brutal home raids
and searches. No arrests were reported.
In Bethlehem, the surroundings of Bethlehem University witnessed
intense confrontations between the students and occupation military
forces that fired tear gas and sound bombs and metal bullets into
the university.
The occupation army intensified its presence in the cities of
Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, and set up "flying" roadblocks
in more than one location with an aim of delaying and searching the
residents provocatively.
In Ramallah and al-Bireh, 3 youths were wounded Saturday evening
when occupation soldiers fired metal bullets intensively towards
residents at Atara military roadblock, north Bir Zeit. The 3 youths
were carried to hospital for medication.
The occupation army intensified its oppressive measures against the
residents in the past few days, as well as escalated operations of
raids and arrests within and outside the city of Ramallah.
The occupation army at noon occupied the Preventive Security
location between al-Taybeh and Deir Jarir villages, after arresting
one security officer.
In the Gaza Strip, the occupation army targeted fishing boats,
setting on fire and destroying a number of them. More agricultural
land was bulldozed southwest Rafah. The Israeli army shelled areas
east Gaza City, completely destroying an electrical appliances
factory.
Israeli military sources declared that 2 soldiers were among the 4
Israelis killed on Friday in the attack waged by Palestinian
activists on 'Antail' settlement, south Hebron. 9 soldiers were
among the wounded, one in critical condition.
The Palestinian fighters were disguised in Israeli military clothes
and were armed with M-16 machineguns.
The Israeli army declared through Hebrew Radio that in the next few
days, liquidation and arrest operations would be intensified against
members of armed Palestinian factions throughout the West Bank and
Gaza Strip with an aim of preventing attacks against Israeli
targets. The radio also declared that 1000 Palestinians were
arrested in the past month.
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NEWS
******

*Jenin: Teacher Killed in Cold Blood at Military Roadblock*

Medical sources this afternoon reported that a teacher who works in
one of the schools in Jenin City was killed while in his car
returning to his home after school. Witnesses reported that the
teacher Isam Masad (37 years old) from Faqou'a Village, Jenin, was
killed when occupation soldiers opened fire at him suddenly.

The witnesses reported that when Masad approached al-Jalma military
roadblock, an armored vehicles suddenly appeared resulting in a
small accident. When soldiers ordered him to get out of the car,
they opened fire at him and killed him for no apparent reason.

Medical sources reported that Masad was shot from a short distance
with 2 live bullets in the head and chest.

Occupation soldiers held on to the car for a period of time, while
the Red Crescent said that more than one person may have been
injured in the attack and that ambulances were prevented from
reaching the location.

Israeli army sources said that they suspected that the person was
armed person, but then admitted that he was not and that the killing
was a "mistake".

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*Nablus: Youth Killed during Israeli Military Invasion*

Jamal Zabara (20 years old) was shot dead with live ammunition in
the head during random fire in al-Qasaba are in the city today.
Another youth, Adham al-Sha'lan (18 years old) was wounded with live
ammunition in the leg. Two others were wounded with metal bullets.

The Israeli army invaded the city and opened fire intensively at the
residents in a number of residential quarters in the city.

Dozens of people were reportedly beaten up by occupation soldiers.
At least 5 civilians were admitted into hospital as a result.
Chasing residents…

A tight military closure continues to be imposed on the city and
surrounding villages.

Israeli military forces brutally raided several homes in Zawata
Village, north Nablus City, today. Police dogs were used during home
raids. The residents' furniture and belongings were severely
destroyed for no apparent reason. Several children in the village
suffered from serious cases of fear and shock. The village was
invaded by several tanks and armored vehicles.

Over 30 youths in the village were lined up under humiliating
conditions. 2 were arrested and released at a later stage.

Madama Village, south Nablus, was raided today and many of its
residents held under extremely oppressive measures, under the same
claims.

Azmout and Deir Hatab villages were raided last night, and homes
raided under claims of searching for the "wanted".

************************************

*Gaza City: Occupation Soldiers Run Over Unidentified Man with Tank*

An unidentified man was killed in Gaza Valley, Gaza City, in tank
fire. Then occupation soldier drove over his body, according to
witnesses. A 'Mirkva' tank drove over the man near the dividing line
between the Gaza Strip and the 'green line', east Gaza City.

Witnesses confirmed that the man was shot dead before a tank were
brought in to run him over.

2 hours following the murder, the occupation army invaded the area
with tanks and bulldozers under intense heavy fire directed at homes
and raided and searched several homes brutally and provocatively.

Abu Holi and al-Matahin military roadblocks were closed this
morning, while occupation soldiers carried out searches and
oppressive measures against those attempting to reach their work in
Gaza City. Long queues of cars were held for several hours.

Western Khan Younis refugee camp was attacked with heavy fire and 1
missile this morning. No casualties were reported.

Al-Tuffah military roadblock at the entrance of al-Mawasi area
continues to be closed for delegations and residents attempting to
bring medical and nutritious aid to the besieged residents for the
3rd day running.

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*Rafah: Shelling and Israeli Plan to Demolish Hundreds of Homes*

Israeli occupation soldiers based on the border strip between Gaza
Strip and Egyptian territories shelled this morning Rafah refugee
camp, resulting in severe material damage.

The Israeli army has escalated attacks in Rafah lately, in what
seems as an implementation of the plan to expand the border strip to
150 meters into the refugee camp, which means the demolition of
hundreds of the refugees' homes. The occupation army has already
started the implementation of the plan in al-Barahima area on the
borders.

The occupation army since the beginning of the Intifada demolished
over 255 homes.

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*Hebron: 2 Homes Demolished, Inhumane Oppressive Measures*

The homes of the 2 youths who carried out the latest attack in an
Israeli settlement in Hebron, which resulted in the death of 2
Israeli soldiers and 2 settlers and the wounding of at least 9
soldiers, were demolished by the occupation army in Doura today.

The youths who carried out the operation are from Doura, south
Hebron, and used to study at the Palestine Polytechnic.

Israeli soldiers blew up the home of Ahmad Faqih (150m2), inhabited
by 13 people, and the home of Muhammad Shaheen (140m2) inhabited by
8 people.

Occupation soldiers arrested the fathers of the 2 youths as well as
3 others before the demolition.

Witnesses reported that occupation soldiers beat up several of the
residents.

In the meantime, Israeli settlers began to establish a new
settlement unit near 'Anta'il' settlement established at the
entrance of al-Smou' town.

Occupation soldiers in the city of Hebron have been carrying out
abusive inhumane measures against the residents. One story reported:
Israeli soldiers forced residents to eat their hair after it was set
on fire and shampoo. Israeli soldiers yesterday raided a barbers'
shop in the city and forced those inside to sit down while they
shaved their hair off or set it on fire. Those were also forced to
eat burnt hair and shampoo under the threat of weapons.

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*Bethlehem: Demolition and Confiscation Campaign, More to Come*

The Israeli occupation army this morning demolished 2 homes in
Bettir Village, Bethlehem:
- The 2-story home of resident Abdel Fatah al-Qaisi
- The home of another resident Diyaa al-Qaisi

The 2 homes are situated at the entrance of the village.
The occupation army also bulldozed a farm that belongs to the
resident Mahmoud Abu Tarboush, in the adjacent al-Shirfa area.
In Husan Village, west Bethlehem, the occupation army imposed a
curfew on the residents and demolished 7 shops and a cement factory.

The shops situated in the industrial area belong to:
- Muhammad Hamamira
- Khalil Hamamira
- Rabah Hamamira
- Nasser Nasser
- Ahmad Sabatin
- Ashraf ZaghlooulMuhammad Shousha
- Amjad Zaghloul

The occupation army this morning confiscated more land in Bethlehem
for the purpose of what is referred to as the "dividing security
wall". The confiscated land belongs to the resident Hanna Hanthal,
and stretches over an area of around10 dunums (1dunum=1000m2),
situated behind the Caritas Children's Hospital, near the northern
entrance to the city of Bethlehem.

Occupation soldiers opened fire at students in Deheishe refugee camp
today while on their way to school.

2 new military roadblocks were set up today that prevent the
movement of residents out of Bethlehem, between Beit Sahour al-
Ubeidiya and in Bethlehem The residents were stopped and searched
provocatively and told they could not cross without permissions from
the occupation authorities. The residents refused to obtain
permission from the occupation authorities and either returned to
their homes or looked for alternative routes.

The occupation army also intensified military measures in al-Khader
and Tqou' villages. Intense military presence was reported on the
Jerusalem-Hebron road.

Several homes were raided and searched in Beit Jala last night.

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*Tulkarem: Occupation Authorities Place New Settlement Caravans*

The Israeli occupation authorities in the past few days placed a
number of caravans in 'Avni Hefets' settlement, established on
confiscated Palestinian land in Shoufa and Kufer al-Libid Villages,
east Tulkarem, despite the large number of empty residential units
in the settlement.

Witnesses reported that they saw Ethiopian and Russian settlers go
back and forth to the caravans.

'Avni Hefets' settlement witnesses noticeable expansion activities
and an increase of residential units constructed lately to encourage
settlers to move to the settlement, situated close to the 'green
line'.

The Israeli occupation army at dawn today invaded Bal'a Town, east
Tulkarem, and prevented all movement in and out of the town.

A number of homes were raided and searched and at least 5 residents
arrested.

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*Jerusalem: Soldiers Severely Beat Up 2 Brothers, Steel their Money*

Israeli 'Border Police' today arrested the 2 brothers Muhammad and
Youssif Shuqeirat (in their twenties) from Jabal al-Mukabber and
took them to an empty area were they were brutally beaten up and
their money stolen. The two were taken to Maqasid hospital and
suffer from moderate wounds, fractures and bruises throughout the
body.

Israeli soldiers at Shu'fat military roadblock arrested 50
Palestinian workers from the West Bank attempting to by pass the
military roadblock and forced them to line up and subjected them to
extremely oppressive measures.

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FEATURES
**********

*Khan Younis: Occupation Steels Hanin's Happiness*
By Aman Abu Layla (Al-Ayam daily newspaper)

The deceiving bullets of the occupation stole the happiness of the
child Hanin Abu Suleiman (11 years old) during school midterm
holidays. Bullets penetrated her small head and killed her great
dream.

Hanin went out a lot during the holidays. As usual she played with
her friends near her home in al-Namsawi residential quarter
near 'Neveh Dkalim' settlement, west Khan Younis city. The bullets
finished her happiness and transferred her innocent smile into
screams that shook the whole residential quarter.

A deadly heavy bullet targeted Hanin, fired by an Israeli killer
soldier from inside the settlement, established on the residents'
land in Khan Younis.

Hanin's father said, "It was extremely quiet, no confrontations, no
events, suddenly we heard the sound of bullets fired at our homes,
Hanin fell to the ground."

"When she stayed on the ground for a while, I realized something was
wrong, I ran towards her to find her in a pool of blood," said the
father.

He added, "They killed my child in cold blood, they are killers and
murderers, without differing between children and adults, they
opened fire intentionally to kill and target any resident."

The children in the quarter were overcome with fear and terror
following the incident, so they decided to stay indoors and not to
play in the courtyards of their residential quarter to avoid Israeli
random fire.

The occupation army continuously shells and attacks homes adjacent
to military locations and settlements.

5 civilians were killed and over 20 wounded recently in similar
attacks.

Thousands of people took part in Hanin's funeral yesterday amidst an
overall strike, and carried her pictures and called for retaliation
against Israel's continuous crimes.

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*Tulkarem: Occupation Soldiers Kill Child in Cold Blood*
By Abdel Karim Dalbah (Al-Ayam daily newspaper)

The child Abdel Karim Salama (11 years old) was killed yesterday
morning in the city of Tulkarem with 2 live bullets in the head and
chest fired intentionally by an Israeli soldier, while he was
returning home from school in the southern quarter of the city.

His friends reported that one of the soldiers walked out of a jeep
that was behind an armored vehicle that invaded the residential
quarter in which the school is located and opened fire directly at
Abdel Karim whose friends were throwing stones and empty bottles at
soldiers.

One of his friends said that Abdel Karim had just finished drinking
a bottle of juice which he bought on the way home when an armored
vehicle invaded the area. He said that Abdel Karim tried at that
moment to throw the empty bottle towards the armored vehicle but a
soldier targeted him with two bullets in the head and chest.

Salama was immediately carried to hospital but died in the ambulance
on the way.

Another child was wounded in the same location with live ammunition
in the leg.

Hundred took part in the child's funeral.

************************************

*Another Patient Dies, Prevented Access to Hospital*
From Saed Abu Farha (Al-Ayam daily newspaper)

Hussein al-Tamimi (57 years old) from Nabi Saleh Village, northwest
Ramallah, died yesterday evening as a result of intentional delays
by occupation soldiers at more than one military roadblock, while he
was in urgent need for medical attention.

His relative Bashir al-Tamimi said, "Hussein felt he needed a doctor
at noon, so we took him to the home of a doctor in the adjacent
village of Beit Rima, who said we should get him to a hospital
immediately, due to high cholesterol levels in his blood."

He continued, "We took off quickly to Ramallah, at 'Halmish'
settlement we were stopped by occupation soldiers at a roadblock set
up near the settlement, we were held for 20 minutes despite their
knowledge of the emergency situation."

After that the car headed through several villages and towns west of
Ramallah due to the inability to use normal roads without
permission.

"Another roadblock stopped us."

Al-Tamimi said, a group of settlers from 'Dolib' settlement west
Ramallah noticed our car and prevented us from crossing, and called
a military force.

He added, "We informed the soldiers of Hussein's situation but they
did not care, and one of them placed his gun in the head of the
driver, while they searched the car tightly."

This operation, according to al-Tamimi, took 40 minutes, following
which the soldiers allowed the car to continue to Ramallah, but by
then it was useless.

Al-Tamimi said, "We noticed that Hussein stopped moving and we
checked his pulse and found that he was already dead."

"It was an unforgivable crime; no one could do such a thing except
people with no mercy in their hearts."

************************************

*Nablus: Occupation Soldiers Use Ambulance for Military Training!*

(Al-Ayam daily newspaper) – Israeli soldiers yesterday confiscated
an ambulance that belongs to the Palestinian Medical Relief, and
used it and the driver for military training.

The driver Firas al-Bakri reported that soldiers stopped him near
Beit Iba Village, north Nablus, while returning from Qalqilya, and
forced the staff and patients to get out and held them on the side
while placing the ambulance in the middle of the road to train.

He said the soldiers forced him to sit in front of them in the
middle of the street and opened fire from behind him at another
group of soldiers with non-live bullets.

The training went on for a quarter of an hour, while the ambulance
was held for over one and a half hours.

Among those in the ambulance were a little girl (patient) and her
mother.