PALESTINE today - tomorrow

Israeli forces destroy family home in Nablus during arrest attempt (Nablus) Amin Abu Wardeh Thursday, 12 April 2007 It is not possible for the Al Zaqout family to return to their southeastern Nablus home which suffered tremendous damage yesterday. Israeli forces spent eight hours destroying much of it during a failed arrest campaign. The target was a member of Al Aqsa Brigdes in Kafr Kalil who was not at home during the attack. At least 10 military vehicles came from Huwara Checkpoint on Wednesday and surrounded the three story house. Bulldozers pounded the walls while soldiers opened fire. Two residents were hit, including a 16 year old. Both are hospitalized. A half hour after they withdrew, neighbors flocked to survey the devastation left by the Israeli military in its attempt to arrest the homeowner's 22 year old son, Abdel Khader Al Zaqout. The house no longer has walls. The apartments sit exposed. One of the neighbors pointed and said, “Look, the house is not fit for habitation. The appliances are ruined and everything has been shot at, including the furniture.” Twelve people lived in the house until last night. The Israeli shelling destroyed the electricity in the are, which the Nablus Municipality began repairing immediately. They also brought in heavy equipment to begin removing the rubble. The streets are filled with stones that neighborhood youth threw at the bulldozers during the attack. A cousin said that Israeli soldiers climbed on to the roof of the house and fired at the water tanks before detonating explosives in its rooms from top to bottom. “Even the school books disintegrated.” Source [english.pnn.ps]