IDF infantry, tanks, and engineering units entered the ex-refugee camp of Jenin once again this morning. The forces, which came under Arab fire, penetrated deep into the neighborhood from both north and south, continuing to search house-to-house for terrorists and weapons. Combat helicopters provided cover from above as the army continued to destroy the terrorist infrastructures in the dense neighborhood.
At the same time, the army continues a similar offensive in Balata, just east of Shechem. Some 20 armed Arabs have been killed in both actions, and another 15 are seriously wounded. IDF soldier Sgt. Chaim Bechar was killed in Balata yesterday morning, and 2-4 other soldiers were lightly hurt. United Nations Secretary-Gen. Kofi Anan demanded that Israel leave the areas immediately, and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with Prime Minister Sharon and told him that Israel must do whatever it can to act with restraint.
The IDF spokesman said that the neighborhoods are \"hothouses\" for the manufacture of weapons and especially explosives-laden belts for use in suicide attacks against Israel. \"Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Tanzim work together on preparing attacks in these areas, without Palestinian Authority intervention,\" he said.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) has criticism today of the manner in which the electronic media are covering the IDF actions in Jenin and Shechem. \"It is inconceivable,\" Hendel says, \"that while IDF soldiers are endangering their lives to protect the State\'s residents, the press quotes unnamed security officials with criticism of the actions.\"
In other news of PA violence, an IDF tank crew east of the Gaza Strip sighted and fired at a terrorist cell attempting to place a bomb near Kibbutz Nachal Oz this morning. One terrorist was hit, and two others reportedly escaped back into Gaza... An army patrol near the Karni Crossing in northern Gaza was targeted earlier in a bomb attack; no one was hurt... A Kiryat Arba home was damaged by terrorist gunfire last night...
At the same time, the army continues a similar offensive in Balata, just east of Shechem. Some 20 armed Arabs have been killed in both actions, and another 15 are seriously wounded. IDF soldier Sgt. Chaim Bechar was killed in Balata yesterday morning, and 2-4 other soldiers were lightly hurt. United Nations Secretary-Gen. Kofi Anan demanded that Israel leave the areas immediately, and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with Prime Minister Sharon and told him that Israel must do whatever it can to act with restraint.
The IDF spokesman said that the neighborhoods are \"hothouses\" for the manufacture of weapons and especially explosives-laden belts for use in suicide attacks against Israel. \"Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Tanzim work together on preparing attacks in these areas, without Palestinian Authority intervention,\" he said.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) has criticism today of the manner in which the electronic media are covering the IDF actions in Jenin and Shechem. \"It is inconceivable,\" Hendel says, \"that while IDF soldiers are endangering their lives to protect the State\'s residents, the press quotes unnamed security officials with criticism of the actions.\"
In other news of PA violence, an IDF tank crew east of the Gaza Strip sighted and fired at a terrorist cell attempting to place a bomb near Kibbutz Nachal Oz this morning. One terrorist was hit, and two others reportedly escaped back into Gaza... An army patrol near the Karni Crossing in northern Gaza was targeted earlier in a bomb attack; no one was hurt... A Kiryat Arba home was damaged by terrorist gunfire last night...