Israeli armor and infantry went into downtown Ramallah and al Bireh Wednesday morning, raiding bank branches.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said they saw at least 35 jeeps moving into the city from the nearby "Ofer" camp. Israel Army Radio said the troops would remain in Ramallah for a "limited time." Israeli sources added the operation was not meant to attack Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, but to seize "terrorist funds."
In the headquarters (the Muqata’a), the Palestinian Revolutionary Council of the ruling Fatah movement met for the first time since the outbreak of the second Intifada (uprising) against the 37-year-old Israeli occupation three and a half years ago.
Palestinian youth clashed with the Israeli forces. In response, occupation troops fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the stone-throwing demonstrators.
Sources in the city said 17 Palestinians were injured, some of them seriously, when troops fired teargas and rubber bullets.
The witnesses added the forces were surrounding the bank branches and not letting residents near them.
The latest raid came as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague concluded its three-day hearing Wednesday. It will provide an advisory opinion to the U.N. General Assembly on the legality of the disputed wall that Israel is building over Palestinian lands.
Sudan, the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference presented their arguments on Wednesday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
