In Israel and the Occupied Territories, medical officials say Israeli troops have killed a sixty-year-old Palestinian farmer in Gaza. The victim was reportedly shot dead as he rode his donkey near Khan Younis. The attack follows an Israeli bombing late Tuesday that wounded at least twelve Palestinians in northern Gaza. Israel says it was targeting militants involved in rocket attacks on Israeli towns. The Palestinian Authority has resumed talks with Israel after a brief suspension following Israeli attacks that killed some 120 Palestinians over four days last month. In Jerusalem, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat urged Israel to implement its minimal requirements under the US-backed road map.

Saeb Erekat: “There is a total of 5,378 housing units (built since the Annapolis summit), 5,378 housing units. That’s what Palestinians see being done. And at a time when we’re trying to tell them we’re going to make the year of 2008 a year of peace. we failed to reduce a single roadblock, we failed to stop settlement activities. These are the obligations on Israel emanating from first phase obligations for road map. We failed to reopen offices and institutes closed in East Jerusalem.”