In the Gaza refugee camp of Rafah, two Palestinians, ages 12 and 17, were killed Thursday in an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and local fighters.
More than 40 Israeli tanks, armored vehicles and personnel carriers were rolling into the town of Rafah Wednesday night in the southern Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, witnesses reported.
Local Palestinians said Israeli army supported by two Apache attack helicopters were moving from three directions towards the town's refugee camp of 120,000 population.
Additionally, two tunnels used for smuggling weapons were uncovered overnight by the Israeli army in Rafah, on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, Haaretz reported. A soldier operating an Israeli bulldozer was lightly wounded in Gaza when an explosive device detonated.
At least 55 Palestinians on the Israeli army's wanted list were arrested early Thursday morning during a wide-scale operation conducted in more than twenty villages in the vicinity of the West Bank town of Ramallah. Large numbers of Israeli troops, backed by helicopters, raided the villages as part of an operation aimed at arresting Hamas activists.
16 Palestinians were arrested overnight in other locations in the West Bank. Israeli operations in the West Bank were still underway Thursday morning.
Arafat
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday rejected a suggestion by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that he turn over some of his responsibilities to others.
"Is there anyone who relinquishes to others his responsibilities?" Arafat asked in an interview with The Associated Press. "Ask him (Powell) this question. Can he relinquish his responsibilities?" Arafat said.
Powell said Tuesday that Arafat should hand over some of his duties to others.
Arafat charged that daily clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians are "part of the continuous Israeli escalation everywhere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." He said the Israeli aim was to bring about the collapse of the Palestinian infrastructure.
Arafat noted that U.S. experts are training Palestinian security officers. He called on the U.S. government to work toward implementation of cease-fire agreements that have been signed but not carried out. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
