Hear Palestine is a free press service offering daily mailings from the occupied Palestinian territories. Material is analysed and compiled from the Arabic press, radio and television transmissions, and direct interviews by Karma Abu-Sharif.

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Wednesday, 29 May 2002

**Israeli State Terrorism
More Invasions and Arrests in Palestinian Areas

**Diplomatic Efforts
Arafat to Meet Fischer, Burns and Solana

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The Israeli ministerial cabinet failed to take a decision concerning the size of the intended military retaliation and postponed the meeting until next week (Israeli radio reported that the meeting might resume this evening).

The visit of William Burns and Tenet to the region this week might have had something to do with this result. However, the major disagreements in the meeting were the real reason behind the postponement.

The following ideas were suggested in the meeting:

Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer suggested the
continuation of current military invasions based on intelligence information. A serious argument took place between Ben-Eliezer and Israeli army chief Shaul Mofaz, who called for the reoccupation of all Palestinian areas and for the Israeli army to remain in these areas until the separation fence plan is implemented.

The Minister of Finance called for exiling Arafat, while other
ministers called for the complete reoccupation of Palestinian areas and the destruction of the Palestinian Authority to be replaced with full Israeli military control of Area A.

Sharon is closer to the opinion of ending the Palestinian Authority, but he remained silent during the meeting for two possible reasons:

1) He does not want to escalate tension with the Labor party in order to preserve his government during his war on Hamas.
2) He does not want to reveal to the Americans his real
intentions concerning political efforts, but he had already portrayed the message that if a new large military operation was carried out inside Israel, he will not be deterred from striking "terrorism".

Israeli State Terrorism

The Israeli army invaded and reoccupied Qalqilya today, while
continues to occupy Bethlehem and its surrounding villages for the third day running and to carry out arrests and attacks in the two cities.

A tight military closure continues to be imposed on all Palestinian cities, towns and villages.

Qalqilya

The Israeli army invaded and reoccupied Qalqilya at dawn today. A large number of people were arrested, including Palestinian security personnel. Sounds of explosions are reportedly heard throughout the city.

Israeli soldiers also set on fire a chicken farm in Khilat Nawfal
area, southeast Qalqilya, and invaded the Preventive Security building in the area, which is still under construction.

The Israeli army invaded Azoun village last night after a few hours of withdrawal from Qalqilya. Attacks last night centered in the southern and northern parts of the city.

The city witnessed since last night intermittent military attacks. No causalities were reported.

Bethlehem

The Israeli army continued to occupy Bethlehem for the third day running.

Brutal home raids and arrests are carried out throughout Bethlehem. Several homes were also confiscated and transferred into military positions.

A curfew, which was lifted today only for a couple of hours,
continues to be imposed on the residents of Bethlehem Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Al-Khader, al-Doha, Artas Village, and Deheishe, Ayda and al-Azza refugee camps.

This morning, three workers were moderately wounded when Israeli soldiers attacked them physically at `Gilo' military
roadblock at the northern entrance of Bethlehem. These are:

- Ashraf Abu Zeit, 26 years old
- Ahmad Salah, 25 years old
- Omar al-Sayid, 23 years old

One of the wounded reported that a group of Israeli occupation police arrested them from their workplace at 8:00 am and took them to an interrogation center following which the three were escorted to `Gilo' military roadblock were they were severely attacked by around 18 Israeli border police with machine gun ends and boots. The
three lost conscious and were taken to hospital.

Ramallah

The Israeli army isolated Ramallah and al-Bireh today from the outside world, by closing all military roadblocks leading to the city. Movement is also prevented between Ramallah and its surrounding villages.

Since early morning, Israeli occupation forces chased those
attempting to cross through side sand roads north of Ramallah and opened fire and tear gas bombs in their direction.

Last night (22:00), the Israeli army invaded Betounya, west of Ramallah, using three tanks, 3 armoured vehicles and a number of military jeeps. Israeli soldiers raided the house of Hamas Leader Hassan Youssif and destroyed its furniture.

Military reinforcements were carried out at military roadblocks since last night. Surda military roadblock was surrounded with barbed wire, while at the new Jawal crossing, Israeli bulldozers dug roads and buried public cars under the rubble.

A civilian from Beit Rima was arrested and severely attacked
northwest of al-Bireh last night.

Nablus

Israeli settlers last night set fire to dozens of dunums of
cultivated land in Iraq and Borin villages, south of Nablus. Over 100 dunums (1dunum=1000m2) of land cultivated with olive, almond and fig trees were destroyed. Witnesses reported that the settlers at the military point established on land confiscated from the villages,
considered an extension to `Barakha' settlement, also established illegally on Palestinian land, fired tank missiles and light bombs towards agricultural fields in the area, which set over 40 dunums of land on fire.

Gaza Strip

An unidentified person was found dead in al-Mawasi area yesterday. He was shot dead with several bullets.

Yesterday, Israeli tanks invaded al-Qassas area in Rafah using four tanks and two bulldozers and destroyed the infrastructure in the area under intense fire. A number of civilians were wounded, including one woman in critical condition.

Diplomatic Efforts
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*Arafat to Meet Fischer, Burns and Solana*

President Arafat will meet with German Foreign Minister Fischer and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns in his headquarters in Ramallah tomorrow.

EU political and security chief coordinator Solana will also arrive in the region tomorrow within the frame of international efforts exerted currently to save the situation.

Arafat met with EU peace envoy Miguel Mauratinos yesterday evening in his headquarters in Ramallah