Monday, October 31, 2005

Two Jihad fugitives killed in West Bank gun battle

From Jerusalem Post Oct. 30, 2005 20:30 Updated Oct. 31, 2005 0:42 by MARGOT DUDKEVITCH ...

An Islamic Jihad fugitive was shot and killed by Israeli security forces in an on-going gun battle that erupted outside a house in the center of Kabatiyah near Jenin on Sunday.

Israeli security forces surrounded a house in the afternoon where Islamic Jihad fugitives, possibly linked to last week's suicide bomb attack in Hadera in which five Israelis were killed, were believed to have been hiding. Four Palestinian men, a woman and two children left the house and surrendered to troops outside. They were questioned by security forces in order to gain information about the identities of those holed up inside. Shortly after the house was encircled, fugitives inside the house opened fire on troops. Palestinian media reports said heavy gun battles erupted between the sides.

...In the wake of last week's bombing, Israel decided to intensify its crackdown on Islamic Jihad cell members in northern Samaria located especially in areas between Tulkarm and Jenin. Aside from isolating areas where the terrorists are believed to be active, the army intends to conduct widespread arrests and launch specific operations against specific terror targets. "Our operations focus on routing out Islamic Jihad members and are not aimed at the local population. ..." an officer told The Jerusalem Post.

...Meanwhile Israel agreed to reopen the Karni goods crossing in northern Gaza and the Sufah crossing in southern Gaza on Sunday in order to allow products and merchandise to enter the Gaza Strip. The decision was made following an assessment of the security situation on the ground by top IDF and senior defense and security officials. The Erez crossing which permits the entry of Gazan laborers into Israel remained closed until further notice....

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