JERUSALEM (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Israelioccupation forces surrounded two West Bank cities and took up positions just inside Palestinian-ruled areas early on Saturday in response to a Resistance attack inside Israel, Israeli occupation sources said.
The operations took place as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in the United States preparing for talks with President Bush, who has criticized recent raids into Palestinian-controlled territory.
The Israeli move appeared all but certain to complicate the work of U.S. peace envoy Anthony Zinni, who vowed on Friday not to be deterred by Palestinian militants he said were trying to derail his mission to end 14 months of bloodshed. (Read photo caption below)
An Israeli occupation source said tanks and troops ringed Jenin and Nablus and in some cases had taken up positions just inside Palestinian-ruled areas on the cities' outskirts.
Israel has justified its frequent incursions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a means of stopping militants who launch attacks on Israeli targets.
But Palestinians called it a violation of their territorial rights granted under the 1993 Oslo peace accords. Previous Israeli offensives of this kind have drawn international condemnation.
PHOTO CAPTION:
U.S. mediator for the Middle East Anthony Zinni attends a news conference after a meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katzav in Jerusalem November 30, 2001. Zinni accused Palestinian militants of trying to derail his Middle East peace mission, but vowed not to be deterred by a A Palestinian Resistance bombing which killed three Israelis on a bus. (Sharon Perry/Flash 90 via Reuters)