IDF forces have been conducting limited offensives since this early morning around the PA-controlled cities of Jenin and Ramallah. Tanks have been brought in, fire was exchanged, and the Arabs report one dead in each city. At the same time, army and police forces have entered the Azariyah neighborhood east of Jerusalem, and are making arrests. Among others, a search was made of the home of PA senior Ziyad Abu Ziyad. The siege around Shechem was also tightened today.
Tanks and armored vehicles entered PA areas around 4 AM this morning, preparing for an extended stay. The army captured village areas around Jenin and the northern part of Ramallah. At 6:30, armed Palestinians arrived, and an exchange of fire ensued. Beit El Security Officer Yehuda Dana said that any operation within PA-controlled Area A helps increase the security of the Jewish residents, but Karni Eldad of the Yesha Council says that this morning\'s action was no different than previous actions and does not fulfill the promises made to the Jewish residents regarding a war against terrorism.
Terrorist gunfire was directed at the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo early this evening, for the first time since the IDF withdrew from Beit Jala almost two months ago. Several buildings were hit, but no one was hurt.
A firebomb was hurled this morning at an army jeep at the A-Ram junction north of Jerusalem. No one was hurt.
Wanted Tanzim terrorist Atef Abayat was killed in a car bomb explosion in the Bethlehem area this afternoon. Two other persons were also reported to have been killed. Abayat was among the terrorists whose transfer was recently requested by Israel. Among the attacks linked to him was the fatal Sept. 20th shooting of Sarit Amrani near Tekoa; her husband was seriously wounded in the attack. Palestinian sources threatened Israel with \"painful revenge in the coming hours or days.\" PA sources also said today that they would not give in to Israeli ultimatums, nor would they turn over the murderers of Ze\'evi to Israel.
A suicide terrorist blew himself up last night aside an army jeep in the Be\'eri-Nachal Oz area, east of the Gaza Strip. Two soldiers were wounded. The would-be murderer was wearing an IDF uniform and a backpack. Army sources say that he was on his way to carrying out a major attack in a populated area.
Tanks and armored vehicles entered PA areas around 4 AM this morning, preparing for an extended stay. The army captured village areas around Jenin and the northern part of Ramallah. At 6:30, armed Palestinians arrived, and an exchange of fire ensued. Beit El Security Officer Yehuda Dana said that any operation within PA-controlled Area A helps increase the security of the Jewish residents, but Karni Eldad of the Yesha Council says that this morning\'s action was no different than previous actions and does not fulfill the promises made to the Jewish residents regarding a war against terrorism.
Terrorist gunfire was directed at the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo early this evening, for the first time since the IDF withdrew from Beit Jala almost two months ago. Several buildings were hit, but no one was hurt.
A firebomb was hurled this morning at an army jeep at the A-Ram junction north of Jerusalem. No one was hurt.
Wanted Tanzim terrorist Atef Abayat was killed in a car bomb explosion in the Bethlehem area this afternoon. Two other persons were also reported to have been killed. Abayat was among the terrorists whose transfer was recently requested by Israel. Among the attacks linked to him was the fatal Sept. 20th shooting of Sarit Amrani near Tekoa; her husband was seriously wounded in the attack. Palestinian sources threatened Israel with \"painful revenge in the coming hours or days.\" PA sources also said today that they would not give in to Israeli ultimatums, nor would they turn over the murderers of Ze\'evi to Israel.
A suicide terrorist blew himself up last night aside an army jeep in the Be\'eri-Nachal Oz area, east of the Gaza Strip. Two soldiers were wounded. The would-be murderer was wearing an IDF uniform and a backpack. Army sources say that he was on his way to carrying out a major attack in a populated area.