IDF forces raided a PA General Intelligence building in Ramallah late last night, netting 18 wanted terrorists in the process. The forces also uncovered seven pipe-bombs, an M-16 rifle, three pistols, a grenade, IDF flak jackets and other military equipment.
The forces surrounded the building for two hours before the 18 gave themselves up early this morning. The joint GSS-IDF operation took place in the Ein Um a-Shreit neighborhood in northern Ramallah, north of Jerusalem. The 18 had hidden out in the compound for an extended period.
IDF sources say that wanted PA terrorists have, for many years, used the PA's Intelligence buildings as a hideout from IDF forces - and as a base from which to kick off terrorist attacks. Israel informed the PA several times of the presence of the terrorists, but the PA did nothing.
The PA compound in question includes the Mukata - where Yasser Arafat was holed up for nearly three years before his death in Paris in November 2004 - as well as General and Military Intelligence headquarters.
In the last four months, the terrorists holed up there have perpetrated or organized nearly 25 shooting attacks against IDF soldiers and workers manning the partition wall. Six Israelis have been wounded in the attacks.
In other IDF operations last night, 13 terrorists were arrested, including three near Jenin, four in Shechem, and one in Hevron.
Sheikh Arrested for Incitement
This morning, Jerusalem police arrested yet again the leader of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israeli, the virulently anti-Israel Sheikh Raad Salah. He and a supporter raised Syrian and PLO flags and delivered speeches laced with incitement at a rally in eastern Jerusalem.
The rally was in protest of the Israeli refurbishing of the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate near the Western Wall - an issue Salah has used as an anti-Israel provocation over the past three weeks, causing Arab riots and injuries to both rioters and police. The police dispersed the riot using special means, prompting Arab accusations of police violence.
Salah, who recently sat in prison for over two years for incitement-related crimes, is currently under police investigation for similar crimes he allegedly carried out over the past few weeks. "Every Arab must initiate an intifada in order to save Jerusalem," said the Israeli-Arab sheikh at a recent demonstration.
Salah is also accused of spitting at a policeman during a recent demonstration, for which he was distanced from the Old City area for a period of 60 days.
Would-be Stabber Arrested in Hevron
Near the Jewish community of Hevron early Wednesday afternoon, IDF soldiers discovered a knife on the person of an Arab man from the Palestinian Authority. The suspect was taken for questioning... A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli car near Karnei Shomron this afternoon; no one was hurt...
Training exercises in the IDF's Ground Forces have been put on hold, with the injury suffered by a soldier last night by an accidental bullet discharge. The soldier is still unconscious following the operation he underwent, and doctors say they won't know if his spine was affected until he awakens.