A Palestinian died Sunday of injuries he sustained from an Israeli attack on Hebron two days ago, according to the Palestinian news agency (WAFA).
The agency identified the martyr as Ahmad Farajallah, 33, from the neighboring Ithna village. He was killed while in a cattle ranch in Rama area in the West Bank city.
Earlier, Palestinian armed men exchanged fire with Israeli forces guarding Gaza Strip Jewish settlement of Netzarim early Sunday, reported The Jerusalem Post in its online edition.
A similar incident took place at the Neveh Dekalim settlement overnight, added the Israeli daily, but no injuries were reported in either incident.
Later in the day, the Post also reported that Palestinian snipers opened fire at an Israeli army jeep and a bus transporting Palestinian workers to the Neveh Dekalim industrial zone in the Gaza Strip. The jeep was providing security coverage for the industrial area employees on the bus.
Two Palestinians accused of attacks on Israeli vehicles were arrested overnight in the village of Houssan near Bethlehem, according to Israel Radio.
The radio claimed that a senior Islamic Jihad activist, who was arrested last week by security force in a sweep of the village, provided intelligence information leading to the arrest.
On Saturday, eleven Palestinians were injured in clashes with the Israeli army in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Earlier in Hebron, some 2,000 Palestinians shouted their support for Iraq, which was bombed by US warplanes Friday, during a funeral march Saturday for a Palestinian killed by Israeli shelling, said AFP.
A similar rally took place Sunday in Gaza, according to the agency.
ISRAEL CUTS OFF OIL, GAS SUPPLY
Meanwhile, Israel has tightened its blockade further on the Palestinian territories, stopping the supply of fuel and gas supplies to the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official told AFP Sunday.
"Last Thursday the Israeli army banned until further notice the conveyance of fuel and domestic gas to the Gaza Strip," said Luay Arandas, head of the Palestinian Authority's oil commission.
Cement blocks had been erected to stop supplies coming in from Israel, Arandas said, adding that current reserves in the territory would last only a few weeks.
The 1.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip consume some half a million liters of fuel daily, and are totally dependent on Israel for supplies, said the agency.
The United Nations has warned that the Palestinian Authority is close to collapse because of Israel's economic blockade on the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the Palestinian uprising broke out nearly five months ago.
PNA WARNS OF MORE ASSASSINATIONS
Meanwhile, Palestinian security agencies warned of more assassinations of Palestinian leaders by the Shabak, the Israeli internal intelligence.
According to a report by the Saudi Al Watan daily, Intifada leaders including Fateh’s Marwan Barghouthi and Hussein Sheikh in addition to Hamas West Bank leader Hassan Youssef among others are targeted by Israeli fire under a plan that has seen a number of prominent Palestinians murdered.
The paper said that Mair Ragan, a top security aid of Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, is expected to be named as the new premier’s consultant to handle Israel’s efforts to end “Palestinian terrorism.”
PNA CALLS ON UN TO TEST MYSTERIOUS GAS
In report by the Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA), the Palestinian authority asked the UN to conduct lab test on a mysterious gas it said Israeli forces used against Palestinians. Citing two separate letters addressed on Saturday to UN chief Kofi Annan by PA representative at the international organization, Nasser Qudwa, Israel used the gas during an attack on Khan Youness in the Gaza Strip, leading to nervous disorders among 40 residents.
The envoy said that the PNA has no facilities to make the tests and does not have the antidotes – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
