Important News
- UK labor MPs urge immediate recognition of Palestine, condemn Israel’s forced displacement plans
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- Colonists erect several tents on Deir Istiya land near Salfit in bid to establish new colonial outpost
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- Israeli colonists set up three mobile homes for new colonial outpost in Jordan Valley
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- U.S. students and activists stage sit-in outside AIPAC office in Chicago, demand accountability for Gaza war support
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IOF Aggressive Policy Continues in Gaza and WB
GAZA, March 18, 2004 (WAFA)-Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) closed Thursday the Sofa Trading Crossing in Rafah until further notice, and rumbled into different West Bank cities, Palestinian security sources said.... Liaison sources told WAFA that IOF informed the Palestinian Liaison Bureau, in Gaza, that the Sofa Trading Crossing of Rafah will be closed until further notice.... The sources added that IOF did not give details for its closure.... Earlier, IOF swept on Thursday into 'Aida refugee camp of Bethlehem in the West Bank, witnesses and security sources said.... Security sources said that 12 Israeli military jeeps rolled into the refugee camp amid intensive fire, causing a state of panic among civilians, mostly children and old men and women.... Eyewitnesses told WAFA that Israeli soldiers, accompanied by bloodhounds, broke into several houses, took positions on roofs, while other soldiers marched the camp's streets randomly shooting fire at every movable body.... Moreover, IOF soldiers escorted by tanks and military jeeps, stormed, Thursday at pre-dawn, Zeita village of Tulkarem, officials and witnesses said.... Zeita mayor, Jamal Hassoona, told WAFA that Israeli troops incurred into the village at 2:00 am, started an all-out campaign of storming and searching houses. They forced the residents to spend the night under rain and cold weather.... Hassoona added that the Israeli soldiers launched a house- to- house search campaign continued until 7:00 am leaving great damage to civilians' property....