- Title: WEST BANK/ISRAEL: ISRAELI FORCES LAUNCH NEW RAID ON NABLUS.
- Date: 31st May 2002
- Summary: (U4) NABLUS, WEST BANK (MAY 31, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: ISRAELI TANKS AND ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS (APCS) DRIVING ALONG STREETS (5 SHOTS) 1.07 (U4)BALATA CAMP, WEST BANK (MAY 31, 2002 (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 2. LV/GV: PALESTINIAN RESIDENTS INSPECTING DAMAGE/ DESTROYED CAR AND RUBBLE ON STREETS (4 SHOTS) 1.29 (W5)RAM
- Embargoed: 15th June 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NABLUS, BALATA CAMP AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ TEL AVIV, ISRAEL/ JERUSALEM
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVACG6722YI5355Y0A5H0KVK1RJ
- Story Text: Israeli armour and infantry have thrust into the West
Bank city of Nablus in a raid Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat said was aimed at "bringing our people to their knees".
Backed by covering fire from helicopters, dozens of
Israeli armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and several tanks
rumbled into Nablus under the cover of darkness on Friday
morning (May 31).
Local Palestinian officials said Israeli soldiers detained
dozens of people, including Isam Abu Bakr, the
secretary-general of Arafat's Fatah faction in the Nablus
area.
An Israeli missile knocked out a generator, cutting off
power and water in part of the city, the officials said.
The army also entered Balata refugee camp, a main base of
the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, one of whose suicide bombers
killed an Israeli baby and her grandmother on Monday (May 27).
Witnesses said soldiers called for al-Aqsa members in the
camp to surrender and conducted house-to-house searches.
The group, affiliated with Fatah, said it carried out the
killing of three young settlers at a settlement on Wednesday
(May 29).
An Israel Radio reporter with the Israeli forces said it
appeared they were preparing to remain inside Nablus for at
least two days and had taken up observation posts, including
inside Palestinian apartments, forcing families into one room.
The operation coincided with a flurry of diplomatic
activity to douse the flames of more than 20 months of
violence and a new wave of suicide bombings in Israel.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, speaking after attending
Friday prayers in Ramallah, said he was thankful for the
diplomatic efforts: "especially during this difficult time
that the Palestinians are facing because of the Israeli
escalation that is taking place everyday against our towns and
refugee camps and against our people."
In Tel Aviv, Egyptian presidential adviser Osama el-Baz
met Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, having earlier held
talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Speaking after his meeting, el-Baz said a resumption of the
peace process was paramount. "It is crucial not only to these
two people but it's crucial to all of us in the region."
It was a sentiment echoed by the Israeli foreign minister:
"We are serious about our intentions, to settle the conflict
with the Palestinians peacefully -- by agreement, not be
imposition, not by force," Peres told reporters.
The diplomatic efforts continued in Jerusalem, where it
was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs
William Burns' turn to meet Sharon, after holding talks with
both Peres and Arafat in the previous 24 hours.
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