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Hebron raid
Photo: EPA

'Hebron raids reminiscent of intifada'

Hebron's residents shocked to learn recent IDF raids resulted in discovery of extensive terror base. Israel trying to make up for intelligence failures regarding Eilat terror attacks, they say

Caught off guard? Hebron's Palestinian residents were stunned to learn Wednesday of the nature or the extensive raids carried out by Israeli security forces in the West Bank city and its surroundings over the past few weeks.

 

Earlier, it was revealed that a joint Shin Bet, IDF and police operation uncovered widespread terror infrastructure in the West Bank and identified 13 Hamas terror cells.

 

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Dozens of Hamas operatives were arrested during the operation, including the perpetrator of the attack on Jerusalem's International Convention Center in March; and a would-be suicide bomber, who planned an attack in the city's Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood.

 

The raids were described by Palestinian sources as the most extensive operation in the area since the al-Aqsa Intifada.

 


עוד גל מעצרים ב-29 באוגוסט (צילום: EPA)

IDF forces in Hebron (Photo: EFP)

 

"Many of those arrested were Hamas members, but they belong to the movement's politburo," Issa Amar, a member of Hebron's Popular Committees said.

 

The Palestinians claimed that an IDF raid carried out in mid-August resulted in over 100 arrests of men living in Hebron and the surrounding villages.

 

According to Hebron sources, among those arrested were Hamas MPs Muhammad Abu Jhesheh and Hatem Qafisheh, as well as senior Hamas members Fathi Rajoub, Azzam Hasuna, Fathi Amro and Ayman Qawasmeh, son of former Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander in Hebron Abdullah Qawasmeh, who was assassinated in 2003.

 

Amar was adamant that unlike past raids, which targeted Hamas military operatives, the majority of those arrested in August's operation were simply "politically affiliated with Hamas."

 

The Palestinian Authority was quick to condemn the raids, which Palestinian sources said were meant to "make up for the Israeli intelligence's failures regarding the terror attacks near Eilat."

 

Still, some Palestinian sources ventured that the Israeli security forces were looking for a Hamas sleeper-cell said to be located in Hebron, which is considered the Islamist group's stronghold in the West Bank.

 

Amar dismissed the notion: "I'm sure Hamas has no military arm in the West Bank because the (Palestinian) security forces have tight control over their operatives."

 

According to Amar, the IDF's raid on Qawasmeh's home met with some resistance from local residents, who hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at the troops. The troops reportedly used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd before entering the house.

 

Palestinian sources told Ynet that an IDF force searched the house and then "blew up two rooms." The Hebron rumor mill, they added, hedged that explosives were found in Qawasmeh's home.

 

Amar dispelled that assumption as well: "I don't think any explosives were found there… Hamas made a strategic decision to maintain a lull in the West Bank and the Strip. They know that Netanyahu will use anything they do in the West Bank as an excuse to attack Gaza."

 

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.07.11, 20:25
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