RAMALLAH, West Bank, 29 June 2007 — In the largest Israeli military operation in the West Bank in months, Israeli troops yesterday opened fire at random, conducted house-to-house searches and blew open front doors in Nablus.
Palestinian fighters retaliated. They hurled four explosive devices at the Israelis, severely injuring two officers and lightly wounding six soldiers. Several Palestinians were arrested and taken for questioning. The incursion prevented dozens of Palestinian students from sitting school exams.
The operation came a day after 12 Palestinians were killed in twin Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip and was condemned by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. “We condemn the Israeli military operation ongoing in Nablus, which was launched shortly after those in Gaza,” said Fayyad. “Here we see an Israeli attempt to sabotage our efforts toward restoring security.”
The Israeli raid comes two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree forbidding the brandishing of weapons without a license in the West Bank except for the official PA security services, a step that Palestinians consider will enforce law on Palestinian armed groups.
