- (Agencies) -- Israeli troops killed a 10-year-old boy
and three Palestinian gunmen in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip, security
officials said today.
-
- The incidents came as the Palestinian prime minister,
Ahmed Qureia, continued his struggle to form a permanent government in
the face of objections from the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
-
- The 10-year-old, Mahmoud Kayed, was shot east of Gaza
City early today as he trapped birds near the border fence with Israel,
hospital officials said. A 12-year-old companion suffered a wounded leg.
-
- Palestinian security officials said that the children
had come under fire from a tank. Soldiers fired a mounted machinegun and
launched a tank shell, the officials added. Doctors said that the boy was
killed by two bullets.
-
- The Israeli army said that soldiers had seen three people
in a restricted area along the fence, which militants have repeatedly tried
to infiltrate.
-
- The three were carrying equipment that the soldiers assumed
was a bomb. Troops opened fire and hit one of the three, the army said.
-
- Witnesses and medics said the boy had been hunting with
a net tied to a string. Palestinian doctors said that four other Palestinians
hunting birds - a popular hobby among Gazan youth - have been killed by
soldiers in the same area over recent months. Overnight, Israeli soldiers
killed three Palestinian gunmen in two clashes in Gaza.
-
- Soldiers killed a gunman near Gaza's Maghazi refugee
camp after a bomb had exploded close to a patrol. The bomb caused no casualties,
an Israeli military source said.
-
- The militant Islamic group Hamas said that the gunman
belonged to its armed wing.
-
- The bodies of two other Palestinians - members of the
al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, linked with Mr Arafat's Fatah faction - were
recovered near the town of Khan Yunis after soldiers shot at Palestinians
suspected of planting a bomb.
-
- In the West Bank, a dispute between Mr Arafat and Mr
Qureia over control of security forces remained unresolved despite a series
of stormy meetings during recent days.
-
- The standoff is preventing the formation of a new Palestinian
government, holding up a renewal of high-level peace talks with Israel
and jeopardising a conference of international donors.
-
- The Israeli army removed a roadblock west of West Bank
town of Ramallah, allowing traffic to pass on the road for the first time
in more than a year and half. The gesture was meant as a show of support
for Mr Qureia.
-
- The huge barrier, at Ein Arik, was built after Palestinian
gunmen killed six soldiers guarding the checkpoint in February 2002. At
least three other roadblocks remain around Ramallah.
-
- "Removing it is good, but not enough," Mustafa
Issa, the Palestinian governor of Ramallah, said. "If there is a goodwill
gesture, they should remove the others."
-
- The move came two days after Israel announced that it
was easing travel restrictions in the West Bank. Dozens of checkpoints
have hindered movement throughout the area, preventing many Palestinians
from going to school or work.
-
- At issue in the dispute between Mr Arafat and Mr Qureia
is the appointment of an interior minister who would consolidate the security
forces - some of which are under the command of Mr Arafat - and play a
key role in possible action against violent groups.
-
- Mr Arafat has blocked Mr Qureia's choice for the job,
Gen Nasser Yousef, in part because he does not want to relinquish control
over the security services.
-
- Mr Qureia's predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, resigned after
facing the same battle with Mr Arafat.
-
- Mr Arafat, Mr Qureia and leaders of the ruling Fatah
movement met yesterday, but failed to resolve the dispute.
-
- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
-
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1080244,00.html
-
-
- Comment
From David Silverman
11-7-3
-
- I am just one many Jews who are profoundly, terribly
ashamed at what Zionism has done to Israel and to our faith. This quote
from the Bible sums up the feelings of many:
-
- "Professing themselves to be the most wise, they
became fools... ... And even as they did not choose to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which
are unspeakable; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
they are whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding,
covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy
of death, not only do the same, but take pleasure in them that do them."
- Romans 1
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