Latest Update: The number of Palestinians arrested in the continuing Israeli raids on the Presidential office in Ramallah went up to 70. Resistance at the compound continues

Editor's Note: Following an Israeli security cabinet meeting today, Israel declared an “extended war” on the Palestinians, a war that doesn’t abide by “geographic borders”. The war has in fact begun. The PalestinianChronicel.com will keep you updated around the clock. This report will be regularly updated with news as they happen. Make sure to refresh the page for newer updates.

Around the Clock Update:

-Thousands of Arab protesters in Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere took to the streets following the Friday prayer denouncing the Israeli occupation and calling on their countries to cut their diplomatic ties with Israel. In Jordan, police forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters. In Egypt’s Al Azhar Mosque, protesters were not allowed to march outside of the mosque’s compound.

-The number of Palestinians arrested in the continuing Israeli raids on the Presidential office in Ramallah went up to 70. Resistance at the compound continues.

-The European Union strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Arafat’s headquarters and its invasion of two West Bank towns. The United States called on Sharon to rethink his strategies in the occupied Palestinian territories. Despite the direct shelling of Arafat’s office, Secretary of State Collin Powell said that Israel doesn’t intend to hurt the Palestinian leader.

-Israeli forces continue to attack the Presidential headquarters and personal office in Ramallah. Palestinian resistance at the compound and around the office continues. 60 Palestinians were arrested in the compound and many injuries were reported. Israeli soldiers however are reportedly blocking the transfer of injuries into the area’s hospitals. President Arafat is safe and officials say that he is in high spirits.

-An Arab journalist was shot and is in critical condition when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle he used to report on the Israeli attack on Ramallah. When a passenger in the vehicle attempted to save the journalist’s (who worked for the Nile television station) life by approaching an ambulance near by, he realized that the ambulance driver was shot and bleeding by the ambulance’s door. The dramatic images were broadcast on television stations in the region.

-The fighting in Arafat’s headquarters is reportedly staged from one room to the other within the same floor. It’s unclear what the Israeli soldiers’ motives are, but a large number of Israeli troops is said to be part of the raid on the President’s office.

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