Since Operation Defensive Shield began over the Passover holiday, Israel has confiscated thousands of illegal guns with ammunition as well as hundreds of explosive belts to be used in suicide attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. Hundreds of Arabs wanted by Israel for terrorist activity have been arrested including Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti, and dozens of other terrorists have been killed. Also, more than twenty bomb-making factories have been discovered and dismantled, and PLO mortar shells and Kassam rockets were seized.

Israel continued wrapping up the operation today as forces withdrew from the Arab controlled towns of Shechem and Ramallah. Forces remain in buffer zones around those cities and on the outskirts of PLO controlled towns, troops evacuated last week, including Jenin, Tulkarem, Bethlehem, and Kalkilya.

Troops however continue to surround PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s Mukata compound. Israel insists that Arafat will remain confined to his offices until he hands over those responsible for the murder of Israeli tourism Minister Rechavam Ze’evi as well as well as Faud Shubaki, the mastermind behind the Karin A arms smuggling operation. In addition, IDF forces continue to surround the Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. Over 200 Arab gunmen remain holed up inside the church compound along with dozens of Christian Clergy members who they have been holding as hostages.