(31 March 1:20 AM) The offensive decided upon by the Israeli government on Friday, following a murderous series of terrorist attacks including a Passover bombing in Netanya, which killed 22 Israelis, and an Arab infiltration into Elon Moreh, which left four members of one family dead, has been described by the Defense Minister as being an operation of more than just a few days. In its preparations for any eventuality, over the past two days the IDF has begun a call up of reserves expected to eventually reach 20,000 soldiers. IDF troops have been taking over large areas of the cities of Ramallah, el-Bireh, Bethlehem and Beit Jalla, along with sections of Hevron under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction.
As of now, units of the Israeli army are stationed in two out of three buildings which make up the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. PLO leader Yasser Arafat has been isolated to the point that he is dependent on the Israeli army for basic foodstuffs and medical attention. The electricity has been cut off, but was subsequently restored at the request of MK Ahmed Tibi, and Arafats cellular phone batteries have run out. Also trapped in Arafats offices are other terrorists, including the wanted PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat, the murderers of the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehavam (Ghandi) Zeevi, and the mastermind of the Karin-A weapons freighter, Fuad Shubaki. Killed by PA gunfire during the army incursion into Ramallah on Friday morning was IDF Second Lt. Boaz Pomerantz, of Kiryat Shmona.
Not far from Ramallah, the Bituniah offices of Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Authoritys security services, have also been isolated. Rajoubs headquarters have been surrounded by IDF troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers. Holed up with the terrorist leader are another 400 armed militiamen, including many fugitives sought by the Israeli security services for active involvement in terrorist activities.
In the north, Israeli air force jets yesterday responded to a rocket attack on an IDF outpost on the Lebanese border by bombing Hizbullah targets in southern Lebanon.
During the recent IDF operations, more than 150 Arabs have been captured in the Ramallah area alone, among them two senior Fatah Tanzim commanders responsible for the death of at least 6 Israelis. The IDF displayed hundreds of offensive weapons and ammunition captured from within and around the Arafat compound during the last two days. The weapons included mortars, all types of automatic weapons, rockets and other munitions. Notably, among the weapons taken into IDF custody were dozens of automatic rifles that were transferred to the PLO, under Israeli supervision, as part of the terms of the Oslo accords.
On another front, Israel Border police acted swiftly on Saturday to successfully thwart a terrorist attack. The unit spotted and killed two Arabs in the Israeli Arab town of Baka el-Garbiya who were on their way to commit a massacre in a major population center inside Green Line Israel. In the gun battle, First-Sergeant Major Constantine Zanielov from Or Akiva was killed.
As of now, units of the Israeli army are stationed in two out of three buildings which make up the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. PLO leader Yasser Arafat has been isolated to the point that he is dependent on the Israeli army for basic foodstuffs and medical attention. The electricity has been cut off, but was subsequently restored at the request of MK Ahmed Tibi, and Arafats cellular phone batteries have run out. Also trapped in Arafats offices are other terrorists, including the wanted PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat, the murderers of the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehavam (Ghandi) Zeevi, and the mastermind of the Karin-A weapons freighter, Fuad Shubaki. Killed by PA gunfire during the army incursion into Ramallah on Friday morning was IDF Second Lt. Boaz Pomerantz, of Kiryat Shmona.
Not far from Ramallah, the Bituniah offices of Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Authoritys security services, have also been isolated. Rajoubs headquarters have been surrounded by IDF troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers. Holed up with the terrorist leader are another 400 armed militiamen, including many fugitives sought by the Israeli security services for active involvement in terrorist activities.
In the north, Israeli air force jets yesterday responded to a rocket attack on an IDF outpost on the Lebanese border by bombing Hizbullah targets in southern Lebanon.
During the recent IDF operations, more than 150 Arabs have been captured in the Ramallah area alone, among them two senior Fatah Tanzim commanders responsible for the death of at least 6 Israelis. The IDF displayed hundreds of offensive weapons and ammunition captured from within and around the Arafat compound during the last two days. The weapons included mortars, all types of automatic weapons, rockets and other munitions. Notably, among the weapons taken into IDF custody were dozens of automatic rifles that were transferred to the PLO, under Israeli supervision, as part of the terms of the Oslo accords.
On another front, Israel Border police acted swiftly on Saturday to successfully thwart a terrorist attack. The unit spotted and killed two Arabs in the Israeli Arab town of Baka el-Garbiya who were on their way to commit a massacre in a major population center inside Green Line Israel. In the gun battle, First-Sergeant Major Constantine Zanielov from Or Akiva was killed.