The News Cast
Israeli military invaded the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin early Monday morning. Invading troops stormed Palestinian homes in both cities and left shortly after. No kidnappings were reported.
Palestinian sources also reported that military checkpoints were set up at the eastern entrance of Fahma village and at the northern entrance of Al Zababda village, Located near Jenin. Soldiers forcibly removed civilians from their vehicles in order to check identity cards.
Also on Monday the European Union distributed 7.4 million Euro as part of the sixth installment of aid for Families in extreme financial hardship. At least 40,000 of the neediest families will receive financial assistance of 200 euro each. Since June 2006, the EU-led temporary mechanism distributed 2.3 Billion shekels in financial aid from its social allocations, to Palestinian families.
Internally the Hamas movement issued a press statement on Monday stating that Palestinian security forces affiliated with President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, had arrested six of their members on Monday from several parts of the West Bank.
Meanwhile in the Gaza strip sources at the Hamas Interior ministry stated that unknown gunmen detonated a booby-trapped police car in western Gaza city. No injures were reported.
Also in Gaza, The Saraya AL-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, clashed with Israeli troops on Monday morning. The incident occured east of Kheza'a town, in the southern Gaza Strip. In a statement faxed to press, the armed group announced that its fighters had clashed with Israeli army forces manning the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
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, brought to you by Brian o'cionnaith and Ghassan Bannoura.