WEST BANK: As Israeli army tightens closure on the West Bank city of Hebron in search for three missing teenagers, Palestinian residents complain about restrictions of movement imposed on them

Record ID: 565495

  • Title: WEST BANK: As Israeli army tightens closure on the West Bank city of Hebron in search for three missing teenagers, Palestinian residents complain about restrictions of movement imposed on them
  • Date: 16th June 2014
  • Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (JUNE 16,, 2014) (REUTERS) ISRAELI SOLDIER CLOSING HEBRON ENTRANCE FOR VEHICLES ISRAELI SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINT VARIOUS OF SIGN READING IN HEBREW, ARABIC AND ENGLISH: "THIS ROAD LEADS TO AREA "A" UNDER THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, ENTRANCE FOR ISRAELI IS FORBIDDEN AND DANGEROUS TO YOUR LIVES AND IS AGAINST THE ISRAELI LAW" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN WORKER, HAZIM MANASRAH, SAYING: "We are unable to reach our work places, yesterday we did not go to work and today we have tried to come and as you can see we crossed the checkpoint on foot and we need another 30 minutes to reach our work place, God knows if we ever pass the second check point." VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN VEHICLES STOPPING IN LINE AT ISRAELI CHECKPOINT STOP SIGN, ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN BACK VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SOLDIER SEARCHING TRUCK SOLDIERS AT CHECKING POINT SOLDIER CHECKING TRUCK MORE OF VEHICLES AT CHECKING POINT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TAXI DRIVER, IBRAHIM SALMAN, SAYING: "Earlier a car carrying a patient barely crossed the checkpoint, the situation is getting worse day after day and may God help us, we do not know what to do." VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS DOWNTOWN HEBRON ISRAELI MILITARY VEHICLES DRIVING DOWNTOWN HEBRON
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA9HPL73N4S51H6K0M833Z6R2B
  • Story Text: Israeli forces on Monday (June 16) expanded their search across the occupied West Bank for three teenagers believed kidnapped by Palestinian Hamas militants, with most of the military efforts concentrated in the West Bank Palestinian city of Hebron, a Hamas stronghold.
    Troops conducted predawn door-to-door searches and arrests in half a dozen Palestinian towns, sparking street confrontations, which left one Palestinian dead, witnesses and officials said.
    Israel says members of Hamas, which earlier this month formed a unity government with U.S.-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, have abducted three Israeli teens who disappeared after leaving a Jewish settlement on Thursday (June 12).
    Palestinians travelling to and from Hebron complained about travel restrictions.

    "We are unable to reach our work places, yesterday we did not go to work and today we have tried to come and as you can see we crossed the checkpoint on foot and we need another 30 minutes to reach our work place, God knows if we ever pass the second check point," said Hazim Manasrah a Palestinian worker in Hebron.
    Hamas has neither denied nor conformed the allegation but Abbas on Monday issued a condemnation of the abduction.
    The military said that troops detained 40 Palestinians across the West Bank overnight, "including Hamas leadership and operatives", bringing up to 150 the number of arrests since the search operation began.

    "Earlier a car carrying a patient barely crossed the checkpoint, the situation is getting worse day after day and may God help us, we do not know what to do," said Ibrahim Salman, taxi driver.
    Netanyahu, who called off U.S.-led peace talks with Abbas in response to the Palestinian unity deal, spoke with Abbas on Monday, a statement from his office said. "I expect you to help in the return of the kidnapped youngsters and in catching the abductors," Netanyahu was quoted in the statement as saying.
    Abbas in an official statement condemned "The series of incidents through the past week, starting from the kidnapping of three Israeli boys and the series of Israeli violations."
    The crisis is a severe test for Abbas whose security forces have sought to help Israel's search, drawing censure from Hamas.
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