Large infantry, helicopter and armored forces entered the PA-controlled terrorist stronghold of Shechem early this morning from two directions, in an anti-terror offensive expected to last up to a few weeks. The objective is to search out and arrest terrorists, and destroy the entire terrorist infrastructures in the region. The Israelis were greeted with Arab gunfire and at least one explosive charge, but no one was hurt.
The army forces in Shechem have essentially revived the Civil Administration, which had been in force from 1967 until the city was handed over to Arafat's PLO as part of the Oslo Agreements. IDF officers are dealing with humanitarian cases, including ensuring that water and electricity are supplied without interruption.
The mission in Shechem is concentrating on the Kasbah market area, and has already resulted in the arrest of ten terrorists. IDF forces also entered the nearby Balata refugee camp and Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah. Eight suicide terrorists came from Balata in the past few months. Military sources compared the new offensive to that which was recently completed in Jenin, which lasted two and a half weeks. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz reviewed and approved the details of the plan.
It has been released for publication that an eight-man Hamas terrorist cell was apprehended over the past few weeks. One of the eight took part in the triple murder of Eyal Sorek, 23, his nine-months' pregnant wife Yael, 21, and a soldier who tried to fight the murderers in Karmei Tzur this past June. The cell was in the midst of planning terrorist infiltrations into two other nearby communities.
A 40-kilogram explosive was discovered and safely neutralized by Israeli Border Guard sappers just outside the Gaza Strip this afternoon... Two anti-tank mines were discovered hidden in greenhouses in the Gush Katif community of Morag today...
The army forces in Shechem have essentially revived the Civil Administration, which had been in force from 1967 until the city was handed over to Arafat's PLO as part of the Oslo Agreements. IDF officers are dealing with humanitarian cases, including ensuring that water and electricity are supplied without interruption.
The mission in Shechem is concentrating on the Kasbah market area, and has already resulted in the arrest of ten terrorists. IDF forces also entered the nearby Balata refugee camp and Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah. Eight suicide terrorists came from Balata in the past few months. Military sources compared the new offensive to that which was recently completed in Jenin, which lasted two and a half weeks. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz reviewed and approved the details of the plan.
It has been released for publication that an eight-man Hamas terrorist cell was apprehended over the past few weeks. One of the eight took part in the triple murder of Eyal Sorek, 23, his nine-months' pregnant wife Yael, 21, and a soldier who tried to fight the murderers in Karmei Tzur this past June. The cell was in the midst of planning terrorist infiltrations into two other nearby communities.
A 40-kilogram explosive was discovered and safely neutralized by Israeli Border Guard sappers just outside the Gaza Strip this afternoon... Two anti-tank mines were discovered hidden in greenhouses in the Gush Katif community of Morag today...