Palestine Today 12 21 2010

On Monday, approximately 200 right-wing Jewish gathered in the city of Bat Yam, southern Tel Aviv-Jaffa, to protest against the relationships between local Jewish women and Arab men. During the protest, demonstrators chanted racist slogans and insulted Arabs and Islam's holy figures. In addition, other 200 leftists and Arab residents were also gathered in a counter demonstration, bearing the slogan "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies".

Late on Monday night, Israeli warplanes dropped at least eight separate bombs in different parts of Gaza Strip. A representative of the Qassam Brigades stated that two fighters were injured in the southern area of the strip. One of them was seriously wounded.

Today, the Palestinian Information Centre claimed that officials in the Gaza Strip appealed to the world community asking to restrain Israel's unjustified attacks on civilian population of the Strip. The statement came amidst the recent round of air strikes launched on various targets in Gaza, including the aerial raid on Monday night which left three Palestinians injured and caused severe damage to property.

Also in the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities reportedly opened Kerem Shalom crossing point, south of Gaza, for the import of commercial goods, fuel and humanitarian aid. A source from the Palestinian Border Crossings Authority said that, within the expected 180-190 truckloads of goods, seven carried construction material for UN projects. The northern border of Karni remained closed after being opened for three days last week.

In other news on Gaza, an art exposition was opened to show the work of hundred refugee women and children from the coastal enclave. The artwork shows portraits and murals made by Palestinians affected by the Israeli offensive on Gaza in the winter of 2008–2009.

Also today, early this morning, Israeli forces arrested three Palestinians after invading the village of an-Nasiriyya, near Nablus. The overnight raid targeted the house of Muhammad Salah Abu Zour who was detained for questioning with his two sons Adham, aged 24, and Ehab, 22. Troops also entered and searched a number of houses in al-Khadr village, near Bethlehem, where residents were summoned for interrogation.

In other news, Brazilian government authorized the construction of a Palestinian embassy in the capital of the country, Brasilia. The news comes a month after Brazil officially recognized a Palestinian state among its 1967 borders.

In separate reports, Bethlehem Governor, Abdul-Fattah Hamayel, stated that Bethlehem's Christmas markets will be 100% free of Israeli settlement products.

In a report by the PNN, it was announced that the city of Nablus officially got a Facebook page. Counting more than 500 million users and 49,000 “fans”, the city’s profile aims to connect citizens with local news and encourage locals to post news events online.

That sums up our news for today, thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem, you have been listening to Palestine Today, from International Middle East Media Center. For more updates, please visit our website at www.imemc.org. This report has been brought to you by Husam Qassis and Alessandra Bajec.