Acting on Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer's "green light" to military action against the terrorist infrastructure, early this morning IDF troops, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, entered the PLO-controlled town of Shechem, virtually taking total control of the city. The soldiers entered from four sides and made their way towards the city's Casbah, which has served as a breeding ground for anti-Israel incitement and terror. The troops are conducting house-to-house searches for wanted Arabs as well as bomb-making factories and illegal weapons. The IDF also entered the Balata section of the city, as well as several other villages within the Shechem district.
Arab sources say that at least four Arabs have died in exchanges with soldiers, including a member of the Hamas gang. In addition, troops apprehended an Arab who was preparing a suicide bombing.
In other war news, late at night soldiers found a bomb near the Netzarim junction in central Gaza. The device weighed about 130 kilograms. Sappers were able to detonate the bomb without incident. Arabs have used bombs of that size in the past, in attacks against Israeli Merkava tanks… A mortar shell landed in a Gush Katif community this morning and caused no damage.
Arab sources say that at least four Arabs have died in exchanges with soldiers, including a member of the Hamas gang. In addition, troops apprehended an Arab who was preparing a suicide bombing.
In other war news, late at night soldiers found a bomb near the Netzarim junction in central Gaza. The device weighed about 130 kilograms. Sappers were able to detonate the bomb without incident. Arabs have used bombs of that size in the past, in attacks against Israeli Merkava tanks… A mortar shell landed in a Gush Katif community this morning and caused no damage.