live updates of war in palestine

The mainstream media is portraying the cause of the latest missile attacks in Ramallah as being the Palestinians fault for lynching two Israeli soldiers. The soldiers where apparently planting explosives in downtown Ramallah and where caught by the people and summarily executed. Please read this below. There is a major rally this weekend in San Francisco.

Please Join Bay Area people of conscience to protest the
Israeli massacre of Palestinian people and to
demand justice in Palestine!

March/Rally/Demonstration on Saturday Oct. 14
Meet at Justin Hermann Plaza (2 blocks from
Embarcadero Bart Station) at 11am and March to UN
Plaza / Civic Center (Civic Center Bart Station)
Demo at UN Plaza at 2pm

Update - 11 October 2000, Web posted 2:00 AM GMT+2
SEPTEMBER 2000 CLASHES INFORMATION CENTER
Palestine:
http://www.addameer.org/september2000/
North America:
http://nigelparry.com/september2000/



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BREAKING NEWS FROM RAMALLAH (INCL. CURRENT UPDATES)
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12 October 2000, 3:32 pm, London time, GMT+1.

Adam Hanieh and Hanan Elmasu from Palestinian human rights organisation
Addameer report the following from the Palestian West Bank town of Ramallah,
which is currently under attack by Israeli Cobra helicopters with rockets.

The Addameer office was evacuated prior to the attack and its Web server
(including the local site of the September 2000 Clashes Information Center)
and e-mail server are currently down.


DEVELOPMENTS PRIOR TO THE ATTACK AND BREAKING NEWS FROM RAMALLAH

(All references are to events in Ramallah unless otherwise stated, and are
time-stamped in London time, GMT+1)

Last night, 24 year old Khalil Samour (Lawrence), the head of the Ramallah
Patrol for Force 17 was killed with live ammunition to the heart during
clashes in Ein Ereek, Ramallah. Khalil is 24 years old and is married with 2
children. This morning Israeli settlers burnt a mosque in Howara, Nablus.

11:10 am. Three Israelis, it is not known if undercover units or settlers
were apprehended by Palestinian police in center of Ramallah near the
Ramallah Boys Friends School. They were carrying explosives. The three were
beaten by protestors and their car was burnt. Palestinian police have
advised residents to evacuate the center of Ramallah and four Israeli Cobra
helicopters are currently circling low over the centre of the city.

The Israeli PM\'s Office has stated that the events of this morning are
extremely dangerous and the Israeli government knows how to respond. They
have threatened to bomb PA military posts. Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud
Barak, is currently meeting with high ranking Israeli Defence Force
officials.

The PA has said it will not evacuate military posts and is ready to defend
against any attacks.

The situation in Ramallah is currently extremely tense, the streets are
completely emptied of people who are staying in their homes.


1.57 pm. Two rockets fired from Cobra helicopters near the Muqata (PA
Headquarters in Ramallah), and another one near the central police station,
totaling six altogether. One rocket has definitely hit the central police
station, which was reported to be completely destroyed.


1.59 pm. Two more rockets heard, totalling 8 rockets altogether.


2:01 pm. The electricity grid is out near the Muqata.


2:02 pm. Another rocket.


3:00 pm. Sixteen people reported injured in Ramallah: 12 civilians, 4
members of Palestinian security forces. Three attacks have been reported in
Gaza on Palestinian security force offices, close to President Arafat\'s
office. Attack ships are reportedly positioned in the ocean. More attacks
are expected. A demonstration is currently underway in Ramallah with
thousands participating. Two more rockets have been heard.


3:02 pm. Planes and helicopters can be heard. More rockets strikes.
Ambulance sirens fill the air. More attacks reported in Gaza. Injuries
reported above were not from the police station but from attacks on the
heavily populated residential area of al-Tireh, a suburb east of Ramallah.


3:06 pm. Attacks can be heard on al-Tireh. More rocket strikes have been
heard. There is a police station in al-Tireh that may be the target. The
majority of strikes from the current wave of attacks are on al-Tireh. The
Israeli attack is being coordinated by reconnassiance planes and carried out
by Cobra helicopters.


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BREAKING NEWS FROM RAMALLAH (INCL. CURRENT UPDATES)
---------------------------------------------------


Sent 12 October 2000, 4.49 pm London time (GMT+1).


Adam Hanieh and Hanan Elmasu from Palestinian human rights organisation
Addameer report the following from the Palestian West Bank town of Ramallah,
which is has been under attack by Israeli Cobra helicopters armed with
rockets since approximately 1.57 pm.


(All references are to events in Ramallah unless otherwise stated, and are
time-stamped in London time, GMT+1)


---------------------------------------------------


3:45 pm. Another rocket was heard, followed by 9 more in the region of the
Muqaata (PA headquarters in Ramallah, in the middle of a heavily populated
area) as Israeli Cobra helicopters attack it. Two more rockets are heard,
twelve in total for this strike. The electricity has been cut off in that
area. People are running to and from the Muqaata, and cries for ambulances
can be heard from both there and from the Manara at the center of town.
There was a march of thousands going from the Manara to the Muqaata and
people were gathered to help the wounded. Another rocket is heard and a very
sharp acrid smell is in the air.



3:50 pm. A fire truck is heard. People near the scene report high numbers of
injuries. A lull in the helicopter attacks is noted. There is mass panic in
the streets and small arms fire.



4:09 pm. Three more rockets are heard to strike the Muqaata area.



4:10 pm. Another rocket strikes the Muqaata area.



4:20 pm. Another lull in the helicopter attacks.



4.23 pm. Helicopters over Adam Hanieh\'s house fire four rockets towards the
center of Ramallah/Muqaata area.



4.25 pm. Attack stops.



4:33 pm. Connection lost with Adam Hanieh, as he needed to be evacuated from
his apartment building due to presence of nearby Palestinian security
office.


4:35 pm. Hanan Elmasu reports that in the last half hour, 20 rockets have
been fired at the Muqaata.



Reports will continue to be sent out this afternoon.


[ends]


Related link:


An archive of these reports can be found at http://nigelparry.com/bbs/



Media reports:


Israeli rockets strike Ramallah, Gaza (The Associated Press)
http://www2.haaretz.co.il/breaking-news/Newsflash/330418.asp


Israel fires into Ramallah, seals Palestinian areas: Killing of soldiers by
Palestinian mob sparks sharp Israeli response (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/10/12/mideast.violence.03/index.html