Israel decided on "a series of military actions" in retaliation for a Palestinian suicide attack on a Jerusalem bus that killed 19 people.
Israel's military actions will be of a larger scale than recent army raids but not of the massive scope of Operation Defensive Shield against West Bank towns between March 29 and May 10, Israel Radio said, quoting government sources. In an official statement, the Israeli government said it was changing its response to "murderous acts of terror."
The statement, announced after late-night consultations between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his top Cabinet ministers, said Israel would capture Palestinian Authority territory. "These areas will be held by Israel as long as terror continues. ...Additional acts of terror will lead to taking of additional areas."
Israeli political sources said the army would indefinitely reoccupy some territory in reaction to Tuesday's bombing, and retake more in response to each attack occurring in future.
"How long the territories will be held after violence ceases is not clear now but it's a big change in policy. It means reoccupying land in a way returning the region to the situation before the Oslo (interim peace) accords," one source said.
On the ground, Israeli armored units backed by helicopters entered the Palestinian self-rule town of Jenin in the West Bank late Tuesday, Palestinian security sources said. They said about 50 vehicles, including tanks, drove through town headed for Jenin's refugee camp under covering fire from the helicopters.
Additionally, Israeli tanks and troops invaded the West Bank city of Nablus and arrested three Palestinians, then withdrew. Troops also moved into the town of Qalqiliya. Witnesses in Qalqilya said at least 10 Israeli tanks, backed by helicopters, swept in and clashes broke out with Palestinians.
In Ramallah, Palestinians anticipating an army invasion and extended curfew began hoarding food. "The Israeli response usually is against the Palestinian people, the Palestinian president and the Palestinian Authority," said Labor Minister Ghassan Khatib. "It will not be any surprise if they decide to invade Ramallah again or impose a new siege on the president."
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Minister, Binyamin Ben Eliezer contacted Tuesday evening with officials in Jordan and Egypt, warned that the Israeli government would have to take action due to the "gravity of the situation". "The defence minister underlined the duty of the Israeli government to act for the defense and security of the citizens of the state of Israel," the ministry said in a statement. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
