Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Wednesday July 28th, 2008.

The Israeli army invades west bank cities and kidnaps 4 civilians, while Israeli settlers attack lands in Jerusalem. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned.

The News cast

The Israeli army invaded several West Bank cities including Nablus, Jenin and Bethlehem kidnapping four civilians on Wednesday morning. Local sources reported that the Israeli army invaded Nablus city with a number of military vehicles. Moreover Israeli troops invaded the nearby Zwata village kidnapping two brothers.

In the city of Jenin, Israeli troops invaded the Kabatia and Alyamun villages at dawn with a number of military vehicles. Israeli troops spread out in several neighborhoods searching and ransacking civilian houses. In addition Israeli troops forced civilians out of their houses and shot gunfire. They proceeded to kidnap Khaled Abu Zaid, 25, and Muhammad Shaban, 20, and taking them to unknown destinations.

Moreover, Israeli troops invaded Al Khader village south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Israeli troops searched and ransacked the residence of Al-Muheseri. For the duration they confined the family members in one room and forbade them from leaving. The troops also left damages as they broke windows and doors.

On Tuesday Evening a Palestinian child was announced dead as he was shot by Israeli soldiers who violently attacked and opened fires at a non-violent protest against the Annexation Wall in the village of Ni'llin South of the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Continuing our daily coverage, on Wednesday, a group of Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli troops tried to seize a Palestinian land in Silwan village at the north east of Jerusalem city. Locals reported that Israeli settlers attacked the land and a resident and brought mobile homes with them in order to settle there. Clashes followed between locals and Israeli settlers but no injuries were reported

The Israeli army says that the house was built without the necessary documentation. Since Israel occupied Jerusalem in 1967 it has rarely given its Palestinian residents any form of documentation for their land or homes.

In other news, Israeli Daily Ha'aretz reported today that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to dismantle the Palestinian Authority for the second time this week. This comes in response to fears that a successful prisoners swap deal with Hamas would result in an influx of Hamas leadership into the West Bank.


Conclusion

Thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today from the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org. This report has been brought to you by William Bascom and Hussam Qassis.