GAZA CITY, 8 September — Several Palestinian civilians were wounded in tank fire yesterday, the first day of the Jewish New Year, after the Israeli Army carried out a major incursion into the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, the army slapped a curfew on all Palestinian towns amid tight security aimed at foiling attacks during New Year festivities.
Palestinian security officials said at least eight Palestinians were wounded by Israeli Army tank and gunfire in incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli troops opened fire from their tanks on Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, shooting five of them, one of whom was seriously hurt, after the protesters threw stones, the officials said.
An activist from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah group, was also wounded and taken prisoner during the invasion in Aja, 15 kilometers south of Jenin. The army confirmed the arrest, saying the "Palestinian activist had an M-16 rifle, with many magazines and a bullet-proof vest."
In Gaza, overnight, Israeli troops backed by around 70 tanks and armored cars mounted a major invasion into the Deir Al-Balah district of the central Gaza Strip. Israeli troops seized an activist leader in his home and demolishing four workshops. A local leader of Islamic Jihad, Maher Bashir, and three other wanted Palestinians were also arrested, the army spokesman said. Palestinian security officials said the suspects were picked up during house-to-house searches in Deir Al-Balah and refugee camp, which between them number some 45,000 people. The Israeli troops withdrew yesterday morning after destroying the civil emergency offices.
Palestinian Authority security sources said the demolished buildings contained a foundry and police and civil-defense offices. An Arafat aide called the raid a "dangerous escalation" and said it mocked a security deal reached with Israel providing for the army to relieve its grip on Palestinian towns in exchange for local police reining in activists. The Palestinian Authority officials denounced the operation as the "prelude to a large-scale offensive".
"This new Israeli escalation is torpedoing the efforts being made by the international community, which must act with urgency to stop these Israeli crimes and aggressions," senior Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rudeina told reporters.
The hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, meanwhile, yesterday ruled out dismantling any Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, even rogue ones, saying PA would see it as a sign of weakness.
"Any debate on dismantling the settlements would be wrong, because it could give an impression of weakness" to the PA, the hard-line premier told Israeli public radio. The issue "will not be touched upon until discussions on a final settlement," he insisted.
Meanwhile, Arafat is to give a major policy speech when he swears in a new Palestinian Cabinet today, Palestinian Legislative Council head Ahmed Qorei said yesterday.
Qorei, quoted by the Al-Quds daily, called on Israel to allow all democratically-elected Palestinian representatives to attend the parliamentary meeting and participate in the discussions on reforms and the democratic process. (The Independent)
