Arab entry into and exit out of the sole remaining building of Arafat's Mukata ex-compound carries on essentially undisturbed, despite two new IDF positions near the building placed there since yesterday. Of the 40-50 terrorists who were holed up together with Arafat in the Mukata for the last few months and during the recent IDF siege, an unknown number managed to escape while the IDF was withdrawing earlier this week. Prime Minister Sharon blamed Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer for the escape of some of the terrorists.
It was originally reported that despite the withdrawal of the Israeli forces, the army would be able to interrogate anyone who wished to leave the compound. This is not the case, however, as Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman reports:
"Army figures admit openly that there is absolutely no siege. They say that the government ordered them to remove the siege, and that that is what they did. Our lookouts cannot see exactly who's going in and coming out, and I have ascertained that those who left did so without being checked by our forces. Even Toufik Tirawi and others may not be there anymore..." Huberman said, however, that the army says that it's likely the "heavyweight" terrorists are still in the Mukata, "as otherwise the army would have had intelligence information on it. In addition, it's likely that they are simply afraid of Israel's long arm if they leave the protection of the Mukata."
The IDF arrested seven more Palestinian terrorists during the night, in various areas: Ramallah, north of Hevron, Gaza, and Baka a-Sharkiye.
It was originally reported that despite the withdrawal of the Israeli forces, the army would be able to interrogate anyone who wished to leave the compound. This is not the case, however, as Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman reports:
"Army figures admit openly that there is absolutely no siege. They say that the government ordered them to remove the siege, and that that is what they did. Our lookouts cannot see exactly who's going in and coming out, and I have ascertained that those who left did so without being checked by our forces. Even Toufik Tirawi and others may not be there anymore..." Huberman said, however, that the army says that it's likely the "heavyweight" terrorists are still in the Mukata, "as otherwise the army would have had intelligence information on it. In addition, it's likely that they are simply afraid of Israel's long arm if they leave the protection of the Mukata."
The IDF arrested seven more Palestinian terrorists during the night, in various areas: Ramallah, north of Hevron, Gaza, and Baka a-Sharkiye.