Ramallah, 29-06-07: Coming just one day after Israeli attacks in Gaza killed 13 Palestinians, the Israeli military has expanded aggressive operations to the West Bank yesterday in what Palestinian National Initiative head Dr, Mustafa Barghouthi said was yet another signal that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government has no interest in peace.
The attacks began in the early hours of Thursday morning when Israeli troops invaded Nablus’ old city and central areas of the city. Rafidiya Surgical Hospital and local government buildings were surrounded and more than 30 houses were stormed and used as military posts and observation towers, terrorizing their civilian inhabitants. Israeli forces also blew up an electricity transformer supplying power to central Nablus leading to power outages. Some 30 Palestinians were also arrested during the incursion.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched a further arrest ‘campaign’ in Qalqas village in South Hebron, detaining 60 persons including 18 children, in addition to 3 others arrested in Idhna village near Hebron.
Dr. Barghouthi pointed out that Mr. Olmert’s ‘goodwill gesture’ to release 250 prisoners at the Sharm El Sheikh meeting last Monday when it arrests more than 90 people in 1 day, and an average of 200 Palestinians per month, revealed just what a mockery the offer is.