Israeli forces entered for a brief period the West Bank city of Jenin Saturday, declared a curfew and searched for suspected Palestinian activists, the army and witnesses said.
Palestinian witnesses said tanks, armored vehicles and jeeps entered Jenin in the northern West Bank before dawn, opening fire from heavy machineguns. Troops remained in the city two hours later but there were no reports of any casualties.
The army said a patrol entered Jenin because of intelligence reports that activists planned an attack from the city. "There is a curfew. We received information that someone planned a terror attack from Jenin," an army spokeswoman said. She said she knew of no arrests.
Earlier, Israeli tanks reoccupied the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem and its adjoining refugee camp, witnesses told AFP. About 15 tanks pushed their way in, with machine guns blazing, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on the town and the camp, they said.
An army spokeswoman confirmed troops had entered Tulkarem on the hunt for Palestinian operatives.
"There have been warnings of a possible terrorist attack from this area, so soldiers have entered Tulkarem and imposed a curfew. There is a patrol inside to ensure the curfew is respected," she said. (Albawaba.com)
