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Israel Intensifies Incursions in West Bank, Gaza
JERUSALEM, Oct 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - More Palestinians were killed as Israel ignored U.S. calls for restraint in its continuing military campaign against Palestinian-ruled towns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
At least 10 Palestinians were killed in an overnight Israeli incursion into the West Bank village of Beit Rima, north of Ramallah, a senior Palestinian official said Wednesday, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
The senior Palestinian official said most of the dead were apparently gunmen who were attacked by Israeli helicopter gunships as they tried to flee from the village early Wednesday morning.
About 15 Israeli tanks rolled into Beit Reema, under the cover of darkness, sealing off the community of around 4,000 people and sparking clashes, municipality president Abdel Karim Jasser told AFP by telephone.
At least four Palestinian security officials and one civilian were wounded in the new incursion.
A spokesman for the Red Crescent medical aid group said that at least two people had been reported injured when the tanks entered the self-rule Palestinian village, but said the Israeli occupation army was not allowing ambulances into Beit Reema.
The operation, backed by helicopters, came just hours after the United States toned down its call for Israel to end its invasion of six Palestinian towns "immediately", revising its demand to "as soon as possible", said AFP.
Jasser said Israeli troops were knocking on all the doors of the village in an apparent search for Palestinian activists.
He said he had refused to open his door out of fear of the Israeli troops, but he said many arrests were made.
A witness living outside the village said more tanks were involved in the operation. A number of other Israeli military vehicles remained on the edge of the town to help seal it off.
Last week, Israel sent its forces into towns throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip following last Wednesday's assassination of Israel's Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in a Jerusalem hotel. The military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFPP) claimed responsibility for the killing.
Another three Palestinians were killed Wednesday in an Israeli tank and machinegun attack on the West Bank of Tulkarem, according to the Palestinian official news agency (WAFA).
The number of victims in the city rose to five since Tuesday night when two other Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli occupation troops.
WAFA identified the last three as Ayman and Mahmoud Jallad, and Saleh Rasheed Al Assi; the first two were Bader Shaer, 50, and Talat Jabber, a 19-year-old policeman.
Witnesses told the agency that the Israelis occupied at least ten houses in the town.
Washington slammed the Israeli action Monday in one of its sternest rebukes to its close ally yet, in particular condemning the deaths of around 30 people since the partial re-occupation of Palestinian autonomous towns.
But after meeting with visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, the Bush Administration toned down its tough line.
Israel says it will withdraw when the Palestinian Authority hands over Zeevi's alleged assassins. The Palestinian Authority has refused, arguing that extradition is beyond its obligations under a moribund ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Israeli has likewise refused the extradition of Israelis suspected of assassinating Palestinians.
President Bush was quoted by New York Times as saying, "I would hope the Israelis would move their troops as quickly as possible." And Secretary Powell reiterated his demand, made Monday, for an immediate pullout, a spokesman said.
Peres said, "We would like to withdraw immediately. The minute the Palestinians will take the necessary steps, this may happen."
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