In the Jordan Valley village of al-Aqaba two houses and a barn were demolished by the Israeli military. Al-Aqaba village was subjected to a series of demolitions in April of this year, destroying homes and roads, and all but seven houses in the village have demolition orders outstanding.
Also, demolition orders have been given to five families in the village of Khallet al-Hajjar, near Hebron, and all concern each family’s home.
Popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, told media that all orders stated that the homes would be demolished for security reasons.
In the meantime, Israeli soldiers attacked on Thursday a nonviolent march in support of the Palestinian statehood bid, in the Al Arroub refugee camp, north of the West Bank city of Hebron, and injured several residents, including one child.
The wounded child, Ahmad Abu Ghazi, 15, was shot by a rubber-coated bullet in his foot; several residents were treated for the effects of teargas inhalation. No arrests were reported.
In related news, the Israeli military invaded a number of Palestinian communities and kidnapped 10 residents and summoned others to be questioned by Israeli intelligence.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped 21-year-old Islam Khalf, from al-Shawawra near Bethlehem, and three young men from Nablus - Imad al-Tanbour, Munir al-Masri and Abdullah Dweikat.
Local media sources also reported that three Palestinians were kidnapped from Qalqilia area. The three were identified as Nader Abu Haniyeh 14, and Abdul Rahman Radwan 15, and Muhammad Radwan 20 from Azzun village.
Troops also kidnapped two Palestinians in Jenin area, one is Bilia Awad from Siris village, and the other is Fawzi Sharqawi from az-Zababida. In addition the four sons of Sharqawi were presented with orders to appear at local Israeli military bases for questioning.
In Jerusalem, 15-year-old Ameer Qaraeen, from Silwan again has been arrested as the State of Israel claims Qaraeen missed a scheduled court appearance. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center has stated that Qaraeen has been subjected to repeated harassment including arrests and interrogations.
In political news, Chief Palestinian negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, stated Thursday that there is a misunderstanding of the goals behind the Palestinian UN recognition bid. He added that “The Palestinian bid aims at obtaining a full membership at the United Nations based on establishing a Palestinian State in the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.”
On his part, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Riyad Al-Malki stated Thursday that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will request a full membership at the UN on September 23, if he does not receive a “serious offer” to restart negotiations. No further comments were made on the issue.
That was just some of the news from Palestine Today, for more updates, please visit our website at www.imemc.org. Thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. This report has been brought to you by Hussam Qassis and me, George Rishmawi.