Israeli troops took over the Palestinian town of Tulkarem, imposing a curfew. One Palestinian was killed and 15 were wounded in gun battles. In a separate clash in Ramallah, a Palestinian intelligence officer was killed and two other members of the security services were wounded. Arafat warned that Israel has "crossed all red lines" by taking over Tulkarem. The heaviest fighting came in the adjacent Tulkarem refugee camp, where many gunmen fled after Israeli troops took over the town. One civilian was killed and a second critically wounded. Fourteen more people were wounded by gunfire. The governor of Tulkarem, Izzedine Sharif, urged residents over mosque loudspeakers to defy the curfew and resist Israeli troops. IDF troops in Tulkarm have arrested 18 Palestinians - including four senior wanted terrorist operatives - suspected of participation in terrorist activities.
In the Arab press, which lacks a sense of cause and effect, these actions will be presented as brutal incursions for no reason. Given the world's short attention span, they'll be remembered (if at all) that way. |