Palestine Monitor
December 14, 2001

The latest Israeli attacks against the Palestinians began last night at around 7 pm when helicopters fired five missiles in central Ramallah. One of the missiles exploded in the Quakers "Friends Boys Schools," causing destruction and damage to eight classrooms, negating claims that Israeli military operates with "surgical precision," unless of course the school was a target. Thankfully the school was empty and no one was injured; it could have been so much worse.

In the village of Salfeet, near Nablus, three Israel helicopters and 30 tanks and armoured vehicles attacked at 2:30am, killing 6 Palestinians, and destroying 3 homes. The death of one of the murdered, Rezek Shaban Harzallah, is particularly horrific, as Israeli troops entered his house, and shot him in front of his wife and children -- an execution. The soldiers also injured his wife and two of his brothers.

Dura, near Hebron was also invaded by Israeli troops under a barrage of shelling and gunfire. Eight people were arrested. The Abu Sneneiah neighbourhood, in Hebron was also reinvaded, and arrests made. The same tactics were used in the towns of Am-Matan and Assira Shamaliyah, both near Nablus, where Israeli soldiers invaded the towns under cover of missiles and live ammunition, entered homes, arrested scores of people, and withdrew.

In the south of the Gaza Strip Khan Younis refugee camp also came under attack when 20 tanks and other vehicles and four bulldozers entered the camp and destroyed 15 more houses.

These deaths, arrests, invasion, destruction and military aggression all took place in less than a 12-hour period. Not only do they illustrate the incredible military force being used against civilian towns and villages, it also indicates Sharon's complete contempt for the US delegation led by Anthony Zinni, and Sharon's intentions to re-establish full occupation of the Palestinian territories.

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