Armed activists in Nablus
צילום: איי פי
Nablus: PA, al-Aqsa Brigades clash
Palestinian police commence operation Tuesday to 'clean' Nablus of weapons, criminals, illegal hawkers; Palestinian policeman critically wounded Thursday after operation leads to violent clashes with al-Aqsa Brigades members
A Palestinian police officer was critically wounded Thursday after armed members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades opened fire at a Palestinian police post in Nablus.
Palestinians reported that the al-Aqsa members shot at an improvised post built by the Palestinian police and wounded the police officer, following earlier clashes between Palestinian police officers and gunmen in the city.
This is the third day of a comprehensive security operation held by the Palestinian Authority in Nablus.
The operation was declared by Palestinian Interior and National Security Minister Nasser Yusuf, who said that the Palestinian Authority would do anything in order to impose law and order and prevent the phenomenon of carrying weapons and security anarchy.
During the first two days, the Palestinian Authority began imposing order by removing hawkers and criminals from the city. However, on Thursday a number of violent arguments erupted between the police officers and local gunmen, who insisted on continuing to carry their weapons.
'It is either us, or the gunmen'
The clashes reached a high Thursday evening when al-Aqsa members shot at the police post and critically wounded a police officer.
A Palestinian source told Ynet that "The Palestinian Authority is determined to do anything in order to impose order and security inside of the city of Nablus, according to Abbas' orders."
"Abbas said that we must do anything in order to end the security anarchy, and we will obey the orders," he said.
"This is a situation of being or ceasing to be. It is either us, or the gunmen," the source added.
Sources in Nablus reported that the tension in the city was particularly high Thursday evening and that the Palestinian police was determined to locate the shooters and put them on trial.
