Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Wednesday August 6th, 2008.

The Israeli army continued invading West Bank cities, kidnapping 12 civilians among them a member of Nablus' city council, these stories and more coming up, stay tuned.

The News cast

On Wednesday morning the Israeli army continued to target the West Bank cities of Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, Tubas, Qalqilia and Ramallah.

The Israeli army invaded the west bank city of Nablus kidnapping 7 civilians among them a member of Nablus' city council Dr. Majida Fidda, 42. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli troops entered the city and shot intensive gunfire at random. Troops searched and ransacked several houses and physically attacked civilians.

In Hebron, Israeli troops erected several checkpoints at the city entrances kidnapping a 20 year old civilian. Troops also imposed closure on Yatta and Ethna villages south of the city and raided the residence of Salah Nassar demolishing surrounding yards, fences and the front wall of the house.

Meanwhile, a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Israeli troops searched and ransacked several houses in the city and forced civilians out of their homes.

In addition, Israeli troops invaded the nearby Kabatia village shooting grenades, gun fire and sound bombs at random. Troops also erected a military checkpoint at the village entrance and ransacked several farm lands located nearby the wall.

Continuing our daily news coverage, The Israeli army invaded the West Bank city of Ramallah and the nearby Al Beere town as well. Israeli troops spread throughout the city and harassed civilians.

In the city of tubas the Israeli army kidnapped a civilian taking him to an unknown destination

Also in the West Bank city of Qalqilia, Israeli troops searched and ransacked several houses kidnapping 3 civilians.

On a separate issue, The Israeli daily Haaretz news reported on Wednesday morning that Israel released five Palestinian prisoners as part of a swap deal with the Lebanese Hezbollah group that brought back the bodies of two Israeli soldiers in mid July.

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 Kendra Puryear and Hussam Qassis