Palestine Today 030509

Three Palestinians killed in Gaza, one in Jerusalem as the Israeli governments issue more demolition orders to Palestinian residents, these stories and more coming up - stay tuned.

The News Cast

Two fighters were killed in the Israeli air strike that targeted Al Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza, whilst a third fighter later died of his wounds. Another fighter lies wounded at a local hospital, Palestinian medical sources reported on Thursday morning

Abu Ahmad, spokesperson of the Al Quds Brigades, said that the fighters were in an area close to the eastern borders of the Gaza Strip, and on their way back an Israeli drone fired two missiles at them. A senior leader of the Al Quds Brigades was killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli air strike that targeted an area north east of Gaza City.

A bulldozer said to be driven by a Palestinian man crashed into an Israeli police car in Jerusalem, injuring two officers with the driver was killed on Thursday afternoon. Israeli media reported that the two officers were moderately wounded and were moved to a nearby hospital meanwhile the driver was shot dead by police officers.

Tension has been high in Jerusalem for two weeks, with Israel deploying troops and policemen around Palestinian areas in the city, after the government announced plans to destroy at least 170 Palestinian-owned homes in the city. If this plan goes through thousands of Palestinians will become homeless.

The last such orders were handed out today to 36 Palestinians families that live in two buildings located at the Al Abasiya neighborhood just outside Jerusalem's old city. The orders gave the families 10 days to evacuate their homes.

On Wednesday the Israeli municipality issued orders to demolish 55 more homes, and last issued the same orders to 88 Palestinian owned homes in the city of Jerusalem.
The Israeli municipality says all of these homes were built without the required permission. Since Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem in 1967, the authorities have rarely given Palestinian residents permission to build homes. The Israeli government has continued to build Jewish settlements in and around Jerusalem, an act which contravenes international law.
In other areas of the West Bank, Israeli forces invaded a number of communities today. Local sources said at least 4 civilians were kidnapped by the Israeli troops during pre-dawn attacks.


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 Mary Arthur and Ghassan Bannoura.