Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his Security Cabinet this morning to discuss the progress and continuation of Operation Determined Stand. Since the anti-terrorism offensive began ten days ago, Israel has succeeded in thwarting numerous suicide bombings, arrested dozens of terrorists, and confiscated thousands of weapons. The past 24 hours were no exception, as troops arrested three terrorists concluding their preparations for suicide attacks against Israelis, as well as making other arrests in Kalkilye, in the Ramallah and Hevron districts, and in Shechem. Prime Minister Sharon has asked the army to prepare plans to ease the restrictions on the civil population in the areas now under IDF control.
Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit suggested that Israel appoint a PA resident to serve as governor in several of the cities in order to enable administrative and civil matters to run normally. The proposal was not accepted, but Arutz-7 correspondent Kobi Finkler said that the fact that such an idea could be raised shows that the army is not planning to leave these areas any time soon. \"All the signals indicate that the army is set to remain there for a very long time, maybe even several months,\" he said, noting that the main arenas of fighting are currently in the Hevron and Kalkilye areas.
IDF forces detected a bomb outside Kalkilye near Tzufim late this morning, and sappers safely detonated it... Arab gunmen attempted to infiltrate Ganei Tal in Israel’s southern Mediterranean coastal area last night, but were stopped by an alert Israeli force. Two soldiers were wounded, including one who was operated on and is listed in moderate condition. The terrorists fled, but were apprehended after a four-hour chase... IDF forces operating in the Shechem district last night safely detonated 12 pipe bombs found inside a case… Police in Hevron succeeded in recovering over 60 Israeli vehicles stolen by Arabs inside pre-1967 Israel… Arabs threw a firebomb at a home in the Armon HaNetziv neighborhood of Jerusalem; no one was hurt…
One of the commanders in the Ramallah region explained the relative success of the current mission: \"It\'s simple to explain: When someone is busy hiding, he has less time to attack. Just like in boxing, when you\'re busy blocking a punch, the other side can punch again. When we were busy defending the roads and entrances to the cities, it was easier for them to attack us. But now that we\'re in their homes and their wadis, they\'re busy hiding.\"
Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit suggested that Israel appoint a PA resident to serve as governor in several of the cities in order to enable administrative and civil matters to run normally. The proposal was not accepted, but Arutz-7 correspondent Kobi Finkler said that the fact that such an idea could be raised shows that the army is not planning to leave these areas any time soon. \"All the signals indicate that the army is set to remain there for a very long time, maybe even several months,\" he said, noting that the main arenas of fighting are currently in the Hevron and Kalkilye areas.
IDF forces detected a bomb outside Kalkilye near Tzufim late this morning, and sappers safely detonated it... Arab gunmen attempted to infiltrate Ganei Tal in Israel’s southern Mediterranean coastal area last night, but were stopped by an alert Israeli force. Two soldiers were wounded, including one who was operated on and is listed in moderate condition. The terrorists fled, but were apprehended after a four-hour chase... IDF forces operating in the Shechem district last night safely detonated 12 pipe bombs found inside a case… Police in Hevron succeeded in recovering over 60 Israeli vehicles stolen by Arabs inside pre-1967 Israel… Arabs threw a firebomb at a home in the Armon HaNetziv neighborhood of Jerusalem; no one was hurt…
One of the commanders in the Ramallah region explained the relative success of the current mission: \"It\'s simple to explain: When someone is busy hiding, he has less time to attack. Just like in boxing, when you\'re busy blocking a punch, the other side can punch again. When we were busy defending the roads and entrances to the cities, it was easier for them to attack us. But now that we\'re in their homes and their wadis, they\'re busy hiding.\"