Friday, May 31, 2002

Israeli Troops Detain 100 in New West Bank Raid
NABLUS SWEEP

Backed by covering fire from helicopters, dozens of armored troop carriers and several tanks entered Nablus under the cover of darkness. Troops also went into Balata refugee camp, a bastion of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, one of whose suicide bombers killed an Israeli baby and her grandmother on Monday.

Witnesses said troops ordered about 1,000 Balata residents out of their homes and detained 100 men. They searched homes, smashing interior walls in at least six dwellings.

Sahar Sharaya, 30, told Reuters that 19 soldiers knocked down a wall in her kitchen and seized two of her brothers, while she was told to remain on the second floor of the building. The Israelis detained a third brother of hers several weeks ago as a suspected member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The group, affiliated with Arafat's Fatah faction, said it had carried out an attack in which three youngsters were killed at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Wednesday.

In Nablus, troops ringed the houses of men suspected of belonging to the Brigades or the militant Islamic group Hamas.

The Israeli army said troops had imposed a curfew on Nablus and Balata while they searched houses. Military sources said hundreds of Palestinians were being investigated.

An Israeli missile knocked out a generator, cutting off power and water in part of the city, local officials said
Israel has repeatedly swept in and out of Palestinian cities since declaring an end on May 10 to a six-week West Bank offensive begun after suicide attacks killed dozens of Israelis.

At least 1,376 Palestinians and 486 Israelis have been killed since a Palestinian uprising against Israeli military occupation erupted in September 2000 after peace talks stalled.
Israeli http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-mideast.html

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