A Palestinian Official Statement:

“Israel Withdrew from Bethlehem to Invade Hebron and Nablus”

Ramallah May 31st 2002 Wafa; A Palestinian official spokesman stated the following:

The Israeli assaults, attacks and inhuman invasions are still ongoing, they repeatedly withdraw from one area to occupy another, they have injured many citizens and hundreds were arrested, humiliations and destruction are basic practices of the Israeli occupation soldiers.

Bethlehem District:

After 4 successive days of occupation to the cities of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, and the Refugee Camp of Dheshe, in which the Israeli occupation forces practiced the Israeli organized state terror against the Palestinians, by ransacking their houses, destroying property, imposing curfews, humiliating the citizens arresting many of them under severe humiliation, and besieging the Nativity Church once more, they withdrew their troops, tanks and other military equipments.

The citizens of these cities due to the bitter experience refused to leave their houses, when the invading soldiers declared lifting the curfew between 11 AM and 2 PM yesterday, protesting the Israeli abuse, insults and humiliations during the curfews.

Hebron:

The Israeli occupation forces invaded many of the City’s quarters using tanks and military jeeps, shooting their way towards the residential houses where fire was set near the Rahma Mosque, they arrested many citizens when spread their soldiers between the residential neighborhoods intimidating the citizens restricting their movement and provoking them. The Israeli occupation forces are still occupying the Rahma Mountain in the city.

Rafah:

The Israeli occupation forces stationed at Salah Edin Gate at the entrance of the city opened their machinegun fire towards citizens and pedestrians wounding 15 civilians some of them were described as critically injured.

Jenin:

The city is still under curfew, and intensive military presence was observed in the northern section of the city, where the soldiers opened their gunfire towards Saleh Abed severely wounding him in the head, his condition is very critical.

The Israeli occupation forces shelled wheat field belong to Palestinians from the villages of Marj Ibn Amer burning the crops and totally destroying the plantations.

Nablus:

The city is under tight blockade for three consecutive days where the Israeli occupation forces have intensified their presence at the entrances of the big city, and many tanks were reported to have penetrated into the deeper city sections destroying property and preventing the citizens from leaving or entering the city, they have opened their machinegun fire towards Mahmoud Abu Dweer (26) from Yotma village near Nablus while he was attending his field killing him at the spot.

The Gaza Strip:

The Israeli occupation forces divided the Strip into four separated sections creating four detention zones for the Palestinians to stay in not being able to move between one and the other. They have closed all passages in the Gaza Strip using tanks and other military barriers.

The citizens that have to use these roadblocks need to walk for a long distances only to be met with the Israeli arrogant behavior, where the soldiers insult and humiliate the citizens unjustifiably detaining them for many hours under the sun then ordering them, at the point of their guns to return home.



The Israeli government is proceeding in its arrogant behavior, destroying the Palestinians’ economy and infrastructure, this government is insisting on destroying every shred of hope to return to political negotiations, in order to solve the crisis.

It is the International community’s moral, ethical, and legal duty to stop this government’s practices imposing severe punishments on it to oblige it to abide with the International legitimacy and UN resolutions related to the Middle East conflict.

The Palestinian Leadership calls on the consciously free nations to demand their governments to act immediately to provide protection for the defenseless Palestinians against the killing war machine of the Israeli occupation forces.