Israeli forces shot and injured two Palestinians in different parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, while armed settler militias set olive groves on fire in Salfit and an Israeli force occupied a house opposite to the presidential premises in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Israeli forces invaded the city of Jenin and refugee camps of Jenin from multiple directions, amidst heavy gunfire at Palestinian homes, wounding one of them and arresting another, according to security and medical sources.
The wounded was identified as Yamen Ayyoub, 18, and he was shot in the arm.
Witnesses also added that Israeli soldiers raided a number of houses and arrested Faisal Qureini, 45, after vandalizing his home. He was then led to an undisclosed location.
Elsewhere, Palestinian security sources said that an Israeli force invaded the city of Ramallah and occupied a building under construction opposite to the presidential premises in the city.
The sources added that six Israeli military jeeps patrolled the city, amid random gunfire, before 20 Israeli soldiers raided and occupied an under-construction building adjacent to the President Arafat's besieged office in Ramallah.
In the meantime, armed Israeli settler militias set olive groves on fire Saturday night in the town of Al Zawya in Salfit province. WAFA reported that the settlers raided the town and burned dozens of fruit-bearing olive trees owned by the citizens of Al Zawya.
In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, the public security directorate reported that Israeli troops have stepped up their military offensive on the Gaza Strip, mainly in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah as well as in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun.
The directorate added that Israeli soldiers, stationed near the "Erez" industrial zone, north of Gaza Strip opened fire at one of the workers there, wounding him seriously.
Dr. Moaweya Hasanein, emergency department spokesman at the Ministry of Health, said that Ahmad Abu Sa'ada was shot with live bullets that led to ruptures in his hand and arm, in addition to severe bleeding in the back and abdomen. He was transferred to the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the cabinet during its weekly meeting Sunday that he was determined to evacuate Gaza settlements by the end of 2005.
The Israeli leader told ministers that he had ordered the heads of the committees in charge of implementing his disengagement plan to start work immediately. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
