IDF ground troops, accompanied by over 100 tanks - some reports say \"hundreds\" - and other armored vehicles, took over almost all of the PLO-controlled city of Shechem last night. The forces, with aerial cover from helicopter gunships, faced heavy fire from Arab gunmen. One IDF soldier was lightly wounded during the incursion and was transferred to a local hospital. The IDF is also operating in the cities and towns of Ramallah, Kalkilye, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Tul Karem, Jenin, Salfit, Bitunya, and Idna in Israel\'s fight against the Palestinian Moslem terrorism.
In Salfit, east of Netanya, the IDF uncovered yet another bomb-making factory. Dozens of large explosive packs ready for use were found, as well as the raw materials for additional bombs - of the sort used in previous suicide bombing slaughters - and Kalachnikov assault rifles and kegs of gunpowder. Dozens of wanted Arabs were arrested; Prime Minister Sharon said today, \"Israel has apprehended a number of very cruel wanted terrorists.\"
In Jenin, the army seized 85 rocket-propelled grenades, 500 Kalachnikov rifles, machine guns and a large amount of ammunition. Arutz-7\'s Kobi Finkler reports that fighting is going on in six PA cities and many villages, claiming the lives of four IDF soldiers today. The fighting in Shechem is difficult, as is that in Jenin: \"There have been some injuries to IDF soldiers there as they go house-to-house seeking wanted terrorists and weapons.\" Three soldiers were hit in the Jenin fighting, and two Hamas terrorists were also killed there. In Hevron, the operations commander of the local IDF undercover unit - Patrick Pereg, 30, of Rosh HaAyin - was killed while pursuing of a wanted terrorist; he is survived by a wife and son. Gaza is relatively quiet, as Muhammad Dahlan has come to an \"agreement\" with Israel - as did Jibril Rajoub in Bitunya (see below).
Over 200 armed Tanzim terrorists continue to use the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as their \"safe haven,\" and IDF forces are encircling the building. One Arab was killed in the exchange of fire. Ten terrorists held several nuns as hostages, but then escaped through a back door that they blew open. PA propagandists then had a brainstorm, attempting to take full advantage of the damage by claiming that the holy church\'s back door had been blown off by Israeli forces. Prime Minister Sharon\'s spokesman Raanan Gissin told CNN that this was merely another lie, \"just like when they accused us of killing a priest,\" of executing several of Arafat\'s bodyguards, etc. \"We will not cause any damage to the building, nor will we harm innocent people,\" Gissin emphasized.
In Bitunya, Yasser Arafat is disappointed in the 184 terrorists who were hiding out in the headquarters of PLO Preventative Security leader Jibril Rajoub. He hinted broadly that he would have expected them to die fighting. Of the 184 Arabs who surrendered yesterday to IDF soldiers, 150 of whom were Rajoub\'s men, while the others were of Hamas, Tanzim, and Islamic Jihad. Twelve of them were on Israel\'s wanted list, including the organizers and perpetrators of the N\'vei Yaakov and Tel Aviv Sea Food Market Restaurant murderous attacks. Also arrested was Hamas operative Ballal Baraghouti, who was involved in the Dolphinarium and Sbarro massacres.
Arafat, when asked whether he would consider giving himself or his men up, said, \"Heaven forbid.\" Rajoub, too, when his headquarters were first surrounded last week, said that he would \"fight to the last bullet\" - but he left the site of the battle shortly after it began.
So far over 1,100 Palestinians have been arrested in the IDF\'s Operation Protective Wall, many of whom were wanted by Israel\'s security services. Among the weapons and arms captured were over 1,020 rifles, 50 RPG bombs, two RPG launchers, 11 machine guns, dozens of crates of ammunition, and more.
The army has graduated to the second stage of the Operation Protective Wall, that which takes place in the villages. IDF forces have taken over roads and areas adjacent to the cities in the search for wanted terrorists who ran away when the first stage began.
The siege around Arafat\'s office in Ramallah continues; he is in complete isolation from the outside world, although the IDF is allowing him and his men food and drink. EU officials who wished to meet with other PA leaders were informed that it\'s \"either Arafat or no one.\" This impressive show of solidarity is just that, however, says Arutz-7\'s Kobi Finkler: \"Saeb Erekat and the others like Arafat about as much as I do, as we see from the behavior of Dahlan and Rajoub. This is a show for the outside world, but behind the scenes the story is very different.\"
In Salfit, east of Netanya, the IDF uncovered yet another bomb-making factory. Dozens of large explosive packs ready for use were found, as well as the raw materials for additional bombs - of the sort used in previous suicide bombing slaughters - and Kalachnikov assault rifles and kegs of gunpowder. Dozens of wanted Arabs were arrested; Prime Minister Sharon said today, \"Israel has apprehended a number of very cruel wanted terrorists.\"
In Jenin, the army seized 85 rocket-propelled grenades, 500 Kalachnikov rifles, machine guns and a large amount of ammunition. Arutz-7\'s Kobi Finkler reports that fighting is going on in six PA cities and many villages, claiming the lives of four IDF soldiers today. The fighting in Shechem is difficult, as is that in Jenin: \"There have been some injuries to IDF soldiers there as they go house-to-house seeking wanted terrorists and weapons.\" Three soldiers were hit in the Jenin fighting, and two Hamas terrorists were also killed there. In Hevron, the operations commander of the local IDF undercover unit - Patrick Pereg, 30, of Rosh HaAyin - was killed while pursuing of a wanted terrorist; he is survived by a wife and son. Gaza is relatively quiet, as Muhammad Dahlan has come to an \"agreement\" with Israel - as did Jibril Rajoub in Bitunya (see below).
Over 200 armed Tanzim terrorists continue to use the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as their \"safe haven,\" and IDF forces are encircling the building. One Arab was killed in the exchange of fire. Ten terrorists held several nuns as hostages, but then escaped through a back door that they blew open. PA propagandists then had a brainstorm, attempting to take full advantage of the damage by claiming that the holy church\'s back door had been blown off by Israeli forces. Prime Minister Sharon\'s spokesman Raanan Gissin told CNN that this was merely another lie, \"just like when they accused us of killing a priest,\" of executing several of Arafat\'s bodyguards, etc. \"We will not cause any damage to the building, nor will we harm innocent people,\" Gissin emphasized.
In Bitunya, Yasser Arafat is disappointed in the 184 terrorists who were hiding out in the headquarters of PLO Preventative Security leader Jibril Rajoub. He hinted broadly that he would have expected them to die fighting. Of the 184 Arabs who surrendered yesterday to IDF soldiers, 150 of whom were Rajoub\'s men, while the others were of Hamas, Tanzim, and Islamic Jihad. Twelve of them were on Israel\'s wanted list, including the organizers and perpetrators of the N\'vei Yaakov and Tel Aviv Sea Food Market Restaurant murderous attacks. Also arrested was Hamas operative Ballal Baraghouti, who was involved in the Dolphinarium and Sbarro massacres.
Arafat, when asked whether he would consider giving himself or his men up, said, \"Heaven forbid.\" Rajoub, too, when his headquarters were first surrounded last week, said that he would \"fight to the last bullet\" - but he left the site of the battle shortly after it began.
So far over 1,100 Palestinians have been arrested in the IDF\'s Operation Protective Wall, many of whom were wanted by Israel\'s security services. Among the weapons and arms captured were over 1,020 rifles, 50 RPG bombs, two RPG launchers, 11 machine guns, dozens of crates of ammunition, and more.
The army has graduated to the second stage of the Operation Protective Wall, that which takes place in the villages. IDF forces have taken over roads and areas adjacent to the cities in the search for wanted terrorists who ran away when the first stage began.
The siege around Arafat\'s office in Ramallah continues; he is in complete isolation from the outside world, although the IDF is allowing him and his men food and drink. EU officials who wished to meet with other PA leaders were informed that it\'s \"either Arafat or no one.\" This impressive show of solidarity is just that, however, says Arutz-7\'s Kobi Finkler: \"Saeb Erekat and the others like Arafat about as much as I do, as we see from the behavior of Dahlan and Rajoub. This is a show for the outside world, but behind the scenes the story is very different.\"