seruriermarshal
06-03-2004, 06:28 AM
Two Senior Palestinian Militants Arrested
By LAURIE COPANS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM (AP) -
Israeli troops arrested two senior Palestinian militants who were hiding in a secret compartment in a four-story building in the West Bank city of Nablus Thursday, military officials said.
Also Thursday, Israeli troops pulled out of the southern Gaza Strip after destroying yet more homes in an area where hundreds of been made homeless in the past three weeks.
Jamal Nablusi and Sultan Tashtush, leaders of the Al Aqsa Brigades, carried out deadly attacks in Israel, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The two were arrested by soldiers under cover of darkness in Nablus' Old City, Israeli radios reported.
Troops searched the entire building and found the compartment on the fourth floor, Israel Radio reported. After calling on anyone inside to come out, they threw a grenade into the hiding place. It exploded but did not injure Nablusi and Tashtush, who emerged soon after, the radio said.
The two suspects were allegedly responsible for preparing explosives belts for suicide bombers, who they sent on attacks in Israel, Army Radio reported.
Nablusi had served 15 years in Israeli jails for militant activity.
In all, 21 Palestinian suspects were arrested overnight in the West Bank, Israel Radio said. Israeli troops nightly carry out arrest operations in West Bank towns, often detaining dozens of Palestinians at a time.
In the Rafah operation, at least 18 houses were demolished, Palestinian security officials said. The Israeli army said troops had destroyed some houses that had been used in attacks against soldiers but did not give a number.
The army said it had entered the town Wednesday to search for weapons smuggling tunnels that run under the Gaza border with Egypt.
Israeli troops pulled out of Rafah last week after a seven-day campaign that uncovered three tunnels and came in response to the killing of seven soldiers in the area. Forty-five Palestinians were killed in the operation, Palestinians said. The United Nations said 360 families were left homeless.
From (http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-me/2004/jun/03/060300852.html)
By LAURIE COPANS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM (AP) -
Israeli troops arrested two senior Palestinian militants who were hiding in a secret compartment in a four-story building in the West Bank city of Nablus Thursday, military officials said.
Also Thursday, Israeli troops pulled out of the southern Gaza Strip after destroying yet more homes in an area where hundreds of been made homeless in the past three weeks.
Jamal Nablusi and Sultan Tashtush, leaders of the Al Aqsa Brigades, carried out deadly attacks in Israel, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The two were arrested by soldiers under cover of darkness in Nablus' Old City, Israeli radios reported.
Troops searched the entire building and found the compartment on the fourth floor, Israel Radio reported. After calling on anyone inside to come out, they threw a grenade into the hiding place. It exploded but did not injure Nablusi and Tashtush, who emerged soon after, the radio said.
The two suspects were allegedly responsible for preparing explosives belts for suicide bombers, who they sent on attacks in Israel, Army Radio reported.
Nablusi had served 15 years in Israeli jails for militant activity.
In all, 21 Palestinian suspects were arrested overnight in the West Bank, Israel Radio said. Israeli troops nightly carry out arrest operations in West Bank towns, often detaining dozens of Palestinians at a time.
In the Rafah operation, at least 18 houses were demolished, Palestinian security officials said. The Israeli army said troops had destroyed some houses that had been used in attacks against soldiers but did not give a number.
The army said it had entered the town Wednesday to search for weapons smuggling tunnels that run under the Gaza border with Egypt.
Israeli troops pulled out of Rafah last week after a seven-day campaign that uncovered three tunnels and came in response to the killing of seven soldiers in the area. Forty-five Palestinians were killed in the operation, Palestinians said. The United Nations said 360 families were left homeless.
From (http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-me/2004/jun/03/060300852.html)