Bethlehem News - April 29, 2004

In an ongoing ordeal, Israeli forces raided the towns of Bethlehem Beit Jala and Beit Sahur repeatedly in the past two weeks. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded during clashes with the Israeli forces, more than 20 were arrested, and  many houses were raided and rummaged around.

Curfew in Beit Sahur

For the 4th day in a row, Israeli forces imposed curfew in Beit Sahur and part of Bethlehem and Beit Jala. Reports said that an Israeli army unit stormed into the house of Suheil Hannouneh, forced everyone in the house into the living room, wrecked the house, and turned it into an Israeli check point to overlook that area of Beit Sahur.  The Israeli army also searched and evacuated several other houses, occupied roof tops, and arrested 6 civilians in Beit Sahur.

Entrances to the to town were closed down, and several Israeli checkpoints were setup. Curfew is only lifted 2 to 3 hours a day.   In some areas of the town, where Israeli army units would normally only drive by to announce the curfew, residents manage to sneak between houses and drive down the street. But many are caught by an Israeli army jeep hiding around the corner, insulted, beaten, and if riding in a car, forced to damage their own car.

In Bethlehem, reports said that the Israeli army also made several arrests, opened fire sporadically towards the Aida refugee camp, raided and wrecked several houses in that area.