Round the Clock update on Palestine situation

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday April 04, 2002 11:38 by blisset

From Palestine Chronicle

Israeli flag raised on Ramallah security headquarters (9:15 AM GMT): After several days of siege and intensive bombing, the killing of several Palestinians and the detention of hundreds, the Israeli army took over the Palestinian Authority security headquarters in Beitunia, near Ramallah. Eyewitnesses said that the Israel flag was raised over the compound.

Israeli flag raised on Ramallah security headquarters (9:15 AM GMT): After several days of siege and intensive bombing, the killing of several Palestinians and the detention of hundreds, the Israeli army took over the Palestinian Authority security headquarters in Beitunia, near Ramallah. Eyewitnesses said that the Israel flag was raised over the compound. The fate of hundreds of Palestinians who were trapped at the building is still unknown.
Israel rejects EU request to meet Arafat (8:30 AM GMT): The European Union delegation that is expected to head to the Middle East soon will not be allowed to meet with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, besieged in his Ramallah headquarters.
A spokesman for the Israeli government early Thursday announced the Israeli rejection of the European request. The EU said earlier that its delegation will meet with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, and would seek his permission to meet the Palestinian president.
Israeli warplanes bomb Jenin (7:15 AM GMT): After its failure to defeat the strong resistance displayed by the residents and fighters of the Jenin area in the West Bank, especially at the Jenin refugee camp, the Israeli army began bombing the area with warplanes.
The bombing is reportedly random. Many Palestinian casualties are also reported. The number of the dead in the Jenin and Nablus areas, (according to a few hours old report) stood at 10, and many more wounded. An Israeli soldier was also killed, three wounded, and five tanks destroyed, during earlier attempts to invade the Jenin refugee camp. Residents have blocked the movement of the some army vehicles by amassing rocks at the camp’s entrances.
Sharon gives order to kill Arafat (5: 35 AM GMT): News agencies, including the leading Arab news station Al Jazeera reported on a conversation between Ariel Sharon and his defense minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer that was overheard by a foreign journalist. Ben Eliezer told Sharon that Israel should ‘eliminate’ Arafat while it could. According to the reports, Sharon agreed on eliminating the Palestinian president whenever possible. Israel is yet to comment on the reports.
10 killed in Jenin and Nablus (4:00 AM GMT): At least 10 Palestinians were reportedly killed in the West Bank towns of Jenin and Nablus. The death toll increased after heavy clashes sparked by the Israeli invasion. Fighters and the towns’ residents displayed tough resistance. Israeli forces that lost two of its soldiers and nearly five tanks in the Askar and Jenin refugee camps have failed to consolidate its control over the area. Heavy clashes and intense Israeli bombing and shelling continue in and around the two towns.
Blood drive in Paris (2:45 AM GMT): Hundreds of French and Arab activists flooded a large Paris hospital following a rally today, donating blood for the Palestinian victims of the Israeli invasion of the West Bank. The hospital authority is studying the chances of transferring the blood into West Bank hospitals, considering the tight Israeli military closure and prevention of medical workers from moving freely.
Foreigners evacuated (1:30 AM GMT): Representatives of several foreigner embassies in Israel and the West Bank managed to enter Bethlehem today, but only to evacuate a few of their nationals. Those evacuated were 9 British, 4 Americans, one Japanese and five Italians.
EU supports Palestinians (12:30 AM GMT): The European union has decided to provide the Palestinian Authority with an urgent aid package of 50 million euro. Members in the Union today lashed out at Israel for its invasion of the West Bank, and France began lobbying at the United Nations to send international forces to the West Bank.
Israeli soldier killed in Nablus (11:30 PM GMT): An Israeli soldier was killed and several others were wounded when they faced tough resistance in the city of Nablus and surrounding refugee camps. Four army tanks have been destroyed in the city of Nablus, and one in the Askar Refugee Camp. The attempted Israeli invasion of the city has also resulted in the killing of two Palestinians and the wounding of an unknown number.
Palestinian Killed in Jenin (10:45 PM GMT): A Palestinian man was shot dead in the village of Yabad, located on the outskirts of Jenin in the West Bank. Israel has so far failed to consolidate its invasion of the city.
Bethlehem Siege Intensifies (9: 45 PM GMT): Humanitarian groups warn of a crisis in Bethlehem, as thousands of families are curfewed in their homes with little food. Two hundred people, including many children are still trapped in the Nativity Church.
European Union Delegation (8: 30 PM GMT): A high level delegation representing the European Union is heading to the Middle East to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Delegates will ask Sharon for permission to meet with besieged Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in his Ramallah office.
Humanitarian Crisis in Ramallah (7:00 PM GMT): Various humanitarian and medical groups in and outside Ramallah warned of a humanitarian disaster, if the shutting off of electricity, water and the lack of food continues. News reports indicate that the electricity was restored to certain parts of the city, however, this remains unconfirmed.
No Fighters at the Nativity (6:15 PM GMT): Christian clergy in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, including the Archbishop Michelle Sabah, said that “the nearly 200 people” trapped in the church are Palestinian families and clergy. They said that if fighters did resort to the church for protection, they were allowed in without their weapons. There are several dead bodies in the church and many wounded.
Jenin Refugee Camp Continues to Stand Strong (5:30 PM GMT): Israel encountered its toughest fight yet at the Jenin Refugee Camp, as Palestinian fighters and residents continued to drive out Israeli soldiers who were trying to invade their camp. So far, the death toll in the camp went up to 5. One Israeli soldier was killed and three were wounded. A spokesman for the Fateh movement said that fighters managed to destroy several army vehicles.
Hizbollah on the Offense Again (4:30 PM GMT): Lebanese police stated that the Islamic Movement, Hizbollah has attacked the occupied Sheba farms.
Israel-Egypt Ties (3:00 PM GMT): The United States urged both Israel and Egypt to keep their ties and communication as open as possible. This followed an Egyptian declaration of its intention to keep diplomatic ties, but cut all others. Egypt says that keeping such ties with Israel will serve the Palestinian cause.
Arab Foreign Ministers Disagree over Title (2:00 PM GMT): There is growing support of an urgent Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo. However, the predicament remains, what should be the title of that conference. It seems that the title is an indication of the policy Arabs want to use to confront the current crisis. No further details are available.
New EU Efforts (1:15 PM GMT): France has urged the EU to send a delegation, including top EU officials to meet with besieged President Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Meanwhile, Arab countries at the United Nations are seeking a new resolution that demands an immediate Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian cities.
4 More Killed in Jenin (12:45 PM GMT): News emerging from Jenin indicates that 4 more Palestinians, including a nurse and a 13-year-old boy were shot dead by Israeli soldiers. However, Israeli forces remain unable to enter the Jenin refugee camp as they are faced with tough resistance.
3 Killed in Bethlehem (12:00 PM GMT): Three more Palestinians were killed in the occupied town of Bethlehem. Heavy shelling and bombing by Israeli helicopters are reported in the besieged town. Several Palestinian families are still surrounded by tanks and troops in the Bethlehem Church of Nativity.
Israeli Solider Killed (11: 30 AM GMT): An Israeli solider was killed and three others were wounded in the early morning fighting with Palestinian fighters in the Jenin refugee camp. So far two attempts by the Israeli forces to enter the camp have failed.
Two Killed in Jenin (10:30 AM GMT): The Israeli invasion of Jenin has already resulted in the death of two Palestinians. Over 100 tanks were deployed to carry out the invasion. Heavy clashes and intense fighting are reported in various parts of the city.
Jenin Refugee Camp Standing Strong (8:15 AM GMT): Palestinian fighters in the Jenin refugee camp have successfully driven out Israeli forces that have attempted to occupy the camp today. News reports state that the Israeli forces are amassing again near the camp, which is under attack from two directions.
One Killed in Hebron (7: 00 AM GMT): A Palestinian man was shot dead in Hebron earlier today. Exact circumstances of the killing remain unclear.
Nablus (6: 00 AM GMT): An estimated 200 Israeli tanks have been deployed to and have surrounded the city of Nablus in the West Bank. Nablus is expected to be the next city to be invaded.
Bethlehem (5: 00 AM GMT): A delegation of 200 Christian clergy were sent back by Israeli soldiers when they attempted to enter the city of Bethlehem under siege. Israel said that earlier reports of a Catholic priest being killed are inaccurate, and the priest was only wounded. Israel . expressed regret over what they called a “mistake”. Meanwhile, 200 residents, fighters and clergy are still trapped in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, surrounded by Israeli forces since yesterday.
Salfiet invaded ( 4:00 AM GMT): Israel has invaded the city of Salfiet near Nablus. The assault was staged from two different directions, accompanied by heavy shelling and tough Palestinian resistance. The invasion followed an earlier invasion of the West Bank town of Jenin.
More arrests in Ramallah ( 3:00 AM GMT): Five Palestinians were arrested in Ramallah. This followed the detention of hundreds of Palestinians who were trapped in the PA security forces headquarters in Beitunia. Those detained were taken in five military buses to unknown destination.
Palestine calls for Arabs meeting ( 2:00 AM GMT): Palestine has officially called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo to discuss an Arab response to the Israeli invasion of West Bank towns and refusal to abide by the newly adopted UN resolution 1402.