Tense quiet reigns in Israel today, as the battle of nerves between Palestinian terrorists and Israeli security forces continues. The police and army are on constant alert, both offensively and defensively, as intelligence warnings of possible impending attacks stream in. At the entrances to northern Jerusalem this morning, traffic was backed up for several kilometers as police carefully checked every incoming car for explosives. The army placed two Arab villages in the area under curfew for two hours, and combed them for suspects. A tire blowout on a bus in Beit Yisrael, Jerusalem, led to a mini-panic and a spate of rumors of a terrorist attack. The police remain on alert in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and elsewhere.
IDF tanks and troops early this morning entered the ancient Jewish town of Hevron, where a large Arab majority currently outnumbers the several hundred Jewish pioneer residents, in pursuit of Arab terrorist suspects. Four were arrested, including members of Islamic Jihad and Hamas, and the troops pulled out a few hours later. Police operating in Kalkilye yesterday apprehended the Fatah-Tanzim chief of the PLO-controlled village Azoun, as well as other terrorists in the same region today.
A young Arab woman attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this afternoon. The attack occurred when the IDF removed the closure on the residents for a few hours as a humanitarian gesture. The woman was arrested, and the soldier was not hurt.
Four mortar shells were fired at Jewish communities in the Gaza region last night; no one was hurt, and no damage was caused. Several mortar shells were fired late this afternoon, as well. Over 1,200 shells have been launched at the Jewish towns in Gush Katif and environs since the beginning of the Oslo War... An Israeli was injured this afternoon when Arabs stoned the bus in which he was sitting. The attackers ambushed the bus at the Maccabim checkpoint near Modiin.
Once again, Hizbullah turned anti-aircraft fire against Israel Air Force jets flying near the Lebanese border. It occurred this morning in both the eastern and western areas of the border. No one was hurt by either the shots or the shrapnel, which fell - in accordance with Hizbullah plans - on Jewish communities in the vicinity. Although Israel has cut down on its flights in the area in order not to give the terrorists an excuse to fire, necessary flights continue.
IDF tanks and troops early this morning entered the ancient Jewish town of Hevron, where a large Arab majority currently outnumbers the several hundred Jewish pioneer residents, in pursuit of Arab terrorist suspects. Four were arrested, including members of Islamic Jihad and Hamas, and the troops pulled out a few hours later. Police operating in Kalkilye yesterday apprehended the Fatah-Tanzim chief of the PLO-controlled village Azoun, as well as other terrorists in the same region today.
A young Arab woman attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this afternoon. The attack occurred when the IDF removed the closure on the residents for a few hours as a humanitarian gesture. The woman was arrested, and the soldier was not hurt.
Four mortar shells were fired at Jewish communities in the Gaza region last night; no one was hurt, and no damage was caused. Several mortar shells were fired late this afternoon, as well. Over 1,200 shells have been launched at the Jewish towns in Gush Katif and environs since the beginning of the Oslo War... An Israeli was injured this afternoon when Arabs stoned the bus in which he was sitting. The attackers ambushed the bus at the Maccabim checkpoint near Modiin.
Once again, Hizbullah turned anti-aircraft fire against Israel Air Force jets flying near the Lebanese border. It occurred this morning in both the eastern and western areas of the border. No one was hurt by either the shots or the shrapnel, which fell - in accordance with Hizbullah plans - on Jewish communities in the vicinity. Although Israel has cut down on its flights in the area in order not to give the terrorists an excuse to fire, necessary flights continue.