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Photo: AP
IDF troops at Karni crossing prior to pullout
Photo: AP

IDF kills armed Palestinians in West Bank

Troops shoot and kill three armed Palestinians after they open fire at IDF forces near Jenin; earlier, two PA police officers hurt after exchanging fire with gunmen in Gaza Strip

IDF troops killed three armed Palestinians early Thursday near the West Bank town of Jenin.

 

Two Palestinians opened fire at the forces during a military operation south of the city. The soldiers returned fire and killed the gunmen.

 

A third Palestinian later fired at troops in the same area. Soldiers shot and killed him.

 

Two Palestinian police officers were injured in an exchange of fire with gunmen, apparently belonging to Islamic Jihad, Palestinian officials said earlier Wednesday.

 

The exchange of fire occurred when the policemen attempted to prevent the gunmen from approaching the fence near the Karni crossing. An IDF force deployed on the other side of the fence spotted the three armed men and relayed a report to Palestinian forces, who quickly arrived on the scene.

 

Once the PA troops arrived, the gunmen opened fire and hurled a grenade at them.

 

The Palestinians said two officers were lightly heart and initiated a search for the shooters. The IDF stayed out of the incident but troops continue to monitor it closely.

 

Following the incident reinforcement troops were called to the scene, where a search for the perpetrators has been launched.

 

PA bans open display of weapons

 

The incident coincided with the Palestinian Authority’s’ decision to ban the open display of arms in the territories.

 

The PA took the decision this week to declare all those who carry illegal weapons outlaws and to take the necessary legal steps against them.

 

The decision was taken in light of last week’s explosion during a Hamas rally in the Gaza Strip following which the organization launched a series of rocket barrages into Israel. Soon after, Israel flexed it military muscles and launch an operation in the Strip in an attempt to curb such attacks.

 

Wednesday night’s incident is proof that the PA’s decision to impose law and order will not pass quietly as Palestinian terror groups are certain to defy the security forces.

 

The PA has stressed that it will work decisively to put an end to illegal possessions of arms in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

 

The decision was taken in light of the Palestinian Legislative Council’s threat to topple Ahmed Qureia’s government in a no-confidence vote set for next week, if the PA fails to contain the anarchy in Gaza.

 

Some council members have also demanded that PA Interior Minister Nasser Youssef be dismissed, holding him directly responsible for failing to reign in armed factions.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.29.05, 01:39
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