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| By: Israel Insider staff and partners |
| Published: February 26, 2006 |
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Israeli security forces arrested two Palestinians on Saturday in a brief, but rare raid on the quiet Samarian town of Jericho, the army said.
One of the men, Sami Akilan, belonged to a militant faction of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, the army said. Security officials said Israel had repeatedly asked the Palestinian Authority to arrest Akilan, who was involved in the past in planning terror attacks on Israeli civilians, and recently was planning another.
The other man was brought in for questioning, the army said, without elaborating.
Israel transferred control of Jericho to Palestinian security forces last year under a broader agreement on the handover of five towns in Judea and Samaria. But the transfers broke down, and Jericho is the only one of the five controlled by Palestinians.
"We will continue to operate (there) so long as there is a threat to Israeli citizens and the Palestinian Authority doesn't take action against this threat," the military said about its entry into Jericho.
Some 20 military jeeps and armored personnel carriers, backed by two helicopters, rolled into the town. Palestinians threw stones and firebombs at the Israeli forces. The army initially said troops shot and wounded one of the firebombers, but later said no one was hurt.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who lives in Jericho, condemned the incursion.
"It's really uncalled for," Erekat said. "I believe this is a peaceful town."
AP contributed to this report." |
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