Regular and reserve IDF forces operated last night in Tulkarem, Bethlehem, Kalkilya and Ramallah. IDF troops took up dominant positions in and around TulKarem and are carrying out searches for terrorists, weapons and munitions. The PLO-controlled town serves as a major center for terrorist activity and has been used as a point of departure for numerous terrorist attacks, including the March 27 Passover night suicide bombing in a Netanya hotel which massacred 22 Jews and wounded 170. In the course of the night, soldiers encountered resistance and returned fire. There were no casualties among IDF forces. IDF regular and reserve forces also moved into PLO-controlled Bethlehem. Staff Sergeant (res.) Ophir Roth, 22, from Gan Yoshiya was killed yesterday by Arab gunfire in southern Jerusalem. Another soldier was wounded in the Bethlehem region today.
In the towns of Kalkilya and Ramallah, IDF forces continue their operations. As of the early morning hours, IDF forces are operating in the small Arab towns of Tamon, Tubas, Taysir and Paaro east of Netanya taking over sites used by terrorists.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ron Kitrey said in a briefing yesterday: \"In Ramallah, we arrested more than 700 suspects, and a relatively large number of them are on the wanted list. They are presently under investigation. We are searching private buildings because terrorists hide there. There is a story circulating of twenty armed men who were in the apartment of an old man without his permission. There are other terrorists hiding under the protection of Arafat in the \'Mukata\' - the foreign service building.\"
\"The media published a story about the massacre of 30 Palestinian security officers. We investigated the matter. It turns out that in the course of a firefight with Israeli forces, four Palestinians were killed, four were wounded and 30 were apprehended. All of the Palestinians were armed. The information that continues to flow out of the Palestinian propaganda machine is unfounded...\"
\"Around 20,000 IDF reservists have been called up for duty and the response to the call up is touching. There are those who asked to raise their medical profile so that they could volunteer, and we had to tell many to go home until such time that they could be called. Reservists came from overseas because they heard of the situation.\"
\"Every wanted terrorist we arrested is one less suicide bomber, and that is how we see our operation\'s mission. It is a simple equation. Right now this is the way to defend our country.\"
In the towns of Kalkilya and Ramallah, IDF forces continue their operations. As of the early morning hours, IDF forces are operating in the small Arab towns of Tamon, Tubas, Taysir and Paaro east of Netanya taking over sites used by terrorists.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ron Kitrey said in a briefing yesterday: \"In Ramallah, we arrested more than 700 suspects, and a relatively large number of them are on the wanted list. They are presently under investigation. We are searching private buildings because terrorists hide there. There is a story circulating of twenty armed men who were in the apartment of an old man without his permission. There are other terrorists hiding under the protection of Arafat in the \'Mukata\' - the foreign service building.\"
\"The media published a story about the massacre of 30 Palestinian security officers. We investigated the matter. It turns out that in the course of a firefight with Israeli forces, four Palestinians were killed, four were wounded and 30 were apprehended. All of the Palestinians were armed. The information that continues to flow out of the Palestinian propaganda machine is unfounded...\"
\"Around 20,000 IDF reservists have been called up for duty and the response to the call up is touching. There are those who asked to raise their medical profile so that they could volunteer, and we had to tell many to go home until such time that they could be called. Reservists came from overseas because they heard of the situation.\"
\"Every wanted terrorist we arrested is one less suicide bomber, and that is how we see our operation\'s mission. It is a simple equation. Right now this is the way to defend our country.\"