In light of ongoing Arab terrorist activity emanating from the Arab community of Shechem (Nablus), IDF forces have imposed an "indefinite curfew" on the city's 50,000 residents. In addition to the curfew, the main entrance to the city has been closed off. Military sources said Sunday there was no time limit on the counter-terrorist operations currently underway there.


The stated objective of the army in Shechem is to eliminate terrorist threats that have constantly emanated from the Palestinian Authority city.  Soldiers are conducting searches throughout the city for wanted and other terrorists.


On Sunday afternoon, for the second straight day, IDF soldiers discovered an explosives factory in the Shechem casbah (open-air market). Forces found five pipe bombs, one large bomb, four bags of fertilizer (used for producing explosives), two pipe bombs and a missile. A similar find was uncovered by soldiers on Saturday.


As part of the counter-terror activity in the

For the second straight day, IDF soldiers discovered an explosives factory in the Shechem casbah.

city, IDF forces are searching for eight members of the Fatah's Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades. Fatah is headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. PA sources said soldiers had taken over a school in Shechem and were questioning local residents in their search for the wanted men. The IDF reports that two Fatah terrorists were arrested Sunday night.


According to the Bethlehem-based news agency Ma'an, Israeli army units surrounded a house and arrested six Arab suspects, four of whom were relatives. The arrests took place in Rafidia, west of the city. Ma'an also reported that more than 60 Israeli military vehicles and several bulldozers were deployed in imposing the Shechem curfew on Sunday. Arab sources quoted by Ma'an characterized the situation in the city as "a military camp."


According to other Palestinian Authority sources, seven PA Arabs who were hurling rocks and barrels at the soldiers were lightly injured in clashes during the operation on Sunday. Two IDF soldiers were lightly injured by shrapnel in a firebombing attack by Arabs who were rioting in the city.