Israeli police sources said Thursday that forces in Jerusalem remain on high alert, after continued concrete warnings that Palestinian bombers are planning a suicide attack in the city.
Police chief Shlomo Aharonisky said the forces were still on highest alert, especially in the northern parts.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces used rubber bullets and tear gas against hundreds of Palestinians, most of them residents of Jerusalem, who were waiting to cross the Qalandiyah checkpoint, south of Ramallah, and enter Palestinian-controled areas.
The checkpoint was due to open early in the morning, but because of the high alert for attacks, it remained closed. Israeli soldiers have been preventing hundreds of trucks and hundreds of people from crossing the checkpoint
Raids
Israeli forces entered the West Bank city of Hebron from three directions before daybreak Thursday, Palestinian security officials said.
The officials told AP the Israelis moved into the city in three tanks, about 20 armored personnel carriers and some 20 jeeps. They surrounded several houses. The officials said the Israeli operation appeared aimed at making arrests, and did not look like an attempt to gain control of the whole city.
The force left a few hours later, witnesses said. The sources said that by daybreak, four Palestinians had been arrested.
A Reuters cameraman said he saw the arrests of senior Islamic Jihad member, Mohammed Sider and of a Hamas counterpart at separate locations in the city.
Palestinian security sources said the Israeli army had twice previously tried to kill Sider.
On Wednesday, Israeli troops raided West Bank villages near Bethlehem and re-entered the city of Qalqilyah. The army said it detained 15 people in the Bethlehem area.
Palestinian witnesses said troops left Qalqilyah on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops pulled out of Bethlehem Thursday, witnesses said, after holding the West Bank town since Monday.
Witnesses said tanks and armored vehicles left the town, heading for a checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and other forces pulled out of the adjacent Dheisheh refugee camp. Earlier, an Israeli military commander said his soldiers would remain in Bethlehem until their mission was completed. (Albawaba.com)
