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Israel
Reoccupies Tulkarem In West Bank
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| Israeli
tanks deploy in the center of Tulkarem |
NABLUS,
West Bank, Jan. 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Israeli occupation
army moved in with 100 tanks to reoccupy the autonomous Palestinian town of
Tulkarem in the north of the West Bank early Monday, news agencies reported.
Tulkarem's
Governor, Ezzedine Al-Sharif said "The Israeli tanks moved in through the
northern, western and southern entrances to the town and deployed in the center
of Tulkarem."
A
Palestinian security official said about 100 tanks and armored personnel
carriers participated in the takeover while four helicopters flew above, BBC's
online service reported.
The soldiers occupied several houses after forcing the residents to leave, he
said. The governor did not know whether arrests had been made or if there had
been casualties during the operation, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Israeli state radio quoted military officials confirming that infantry units and
armor had reoccupied Tulkarem backed by helicopters. The troops imposed a curfew
on the town and told residents through loudspeakers to stay at home.
The radio said soldiers had entered several buildings and started making
arbitrary arrests.
Israel’s
occupation army had encircled Tulkarem since last week.
The radio said the main northern West Bank towns of Nablus, Qalqilya and Jenin
were completely encircled by the Israeli army while Bethlehem, Al-Khalil
(Hebron) and Jericho were only partly surrounded.
Al-Sharif,
said troops also surrounded the two adjacent Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee
camps, apparently preparing to enter.
According
to Israeli daily newspaper Ha’aretz, a senior military source said last
night the purpose of Israel's military actions - at this stage - is not to
obliterate the Palestinian Authority. "The operations are being done step
by step and using a lot of brakes," he said.
Over
the past 16 months, Israeli occupation troops have repeatedly taken control of
neighborhoods in several Palestinian cities, but Monday's raid on Tulkarem
appears to be the largest since the Palestinian Al-Aqsa Intifada began in
September 2000.
On
Friday, January 18, Israeli warplanes destroyed Al-Sharif's headquarters in
Tulkarem in Israel's continuing aggression.
Israel
also tightened its blockade of Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat's
headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Friday, drawing angry
reactions from Palestinians, who took to the streets Sunday, January 20 to
protest.
Israel’s
Defense Minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, said Israel had to take the following
steps: Lay siege to Nablus, Jenin, Qalqiliya, and Tulkarem, tighten the siege on
Ramallah, including incursions to Area A, destroy the Voice of Palestine radio
station and bomb the government building in Tulkarem.
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