GAZA, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- There were 479 violations by Israel against the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the recent ceasefire, the Palestinian National Information Center said in a report released on Wednesday.

   Between Feb. 22-27 alone, two Palestinians were killed and 45 wounded by Israeli soldiers, in addition to 49 who were arrested in the West Bank and Gaza, the report said.

   "It is the highest Israeli military escalation against the Palestinians since a ceasefire was declared by the Palestinian factions and militant groups," said the report, adding "this is an addition to the daily haphazard measures."

   During the period, Israel shelled and raided Palestinian residential houses for 99 times, and the army also erected 67 army checkpoints, the report added.

   After elected as the new Palestinian leader to succeed late Yasser Arafat in the Jan. 9 election, Mahmoud Abbas talked
militants into stopping anti-Israeli attacks, which brought a respite in violence to the territories.  Enditem