Palestine Monitor
October 31, 2001

Breaking News: It has just been reported that the Israeli government has assassinated Jamil Jadallah Qawasmi. An eyewitness confirms that 22 year old Jamil was killed by a missile from an Israeli helicopter while standing in the yard of his home in Hebron.

At 4 a.m. today, the Israeli army invaded 'Arraba, Jenin, a town in area A, under complete Palestinian control. Around 12 tanks and a military bulldozer invaded the town, while helicopter gunships shelled civilian homes.

Two Palestinians were wounded during the attack, and seven Palestinians arrested, including Nabil Mughayyer and his brothers Tariq, Kamal and Usama. The army imposed a curfew on the town's east and west neighbourhoods during the attack. According to a resident of 'Arraba, the army withdrew at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army has still NOT withdrawn fully from all areas occupied since 18 October. Israeli tanks and troops remain in areas 'A' in Ramallah, Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqilya, and have also continued to make incursions into Palestinian controlled areas of the Gaza Strip. While the Israeli army has withdrawn from Bethlehem and Beit Jala, it continues to block all entrances to the towns. Troops also surround the city of Nablus.

The Israeli invasion of 'Arraba is further proof that the Israeli government is committed to escalating the violence against Palestinians. Coming a week after the Israeli attack on Beit Rima, it demonstrates a pattern of gradual and recurrent destruction of territory under Palestinian Authority control, and indicates that the Israeli government will commit such atrocities again. This violence will continue to escalate unless an international protection force is sent to the region. We urge the international community to deploy such a force immediately.

For more information contact Mustafa Barghouthi, 050 254 218 and see www.palestinemonitor.org