Israeli Forces Destroy Buildings at Arafat Compound

10/06/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: Arafat's Compound Besieged Yet Again||Israel Makes Usual Claim of Intending to Arrest Militants & Destroy So-called 'Terror Infrastructure'||Palestinian Police Arrests Abadallah Shami of Islamic Jihad|| STORY: Israeli occupation troops raided Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's compound early on Monday, bulldozing buildings damaged in a similar action last week, Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo and local residents said. (Read photo caption)

There was no immediate word on the whereabouts of Arafat, although he was expected to be in his office in the compound. Israel has repeatedly said it does not intend to harm the Palestinian leader.

"Tanks entered Ramallah from all sides. They reoccupied Ramallah and al-Bireh and now they are besieging Arafat's compound," Abed Rabbo told al-Jazeera television in an interview.

Residents said at least two dozen tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps thrust into the West Bank city from several directions shortly before dawn on Monday covered by helicopters hovering overhead and bursts of machinegun fire.

An Israeli occupation army sources source confirmed there was an operation underway in Ramallah and said it was aimed at "arresting militants and destroying the terror infrastructure."

A DAILY AFFAIR

Israeli forces raided Arafat's compound last Thursday after a Palestinian bomber killed 17 people, including 13 soldiers, when his car loaded with explosives blew up next to a civilian bus in northern Israel.

Israeli incursions are an almost daily affair. On Sunday, troops entered the town of Tulkarem.

FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS

Monday's raid took place hours before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was due to meet President Bush at the White House.

Bush also met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak this weekend, part of a flurry of diplomatic contacts aimed at ending 20 months of Mideast violence and restarting peace talks.

PALESTINIAN POLICE ARRESTS ABDALLAH SHAMI OF ISLAMIC JIHAD

In other developments Sunday, Palestinian police arrested a leader of the militant group Islamic Jihad, which took responsibility for a suicide attack last week in which 17 Israelis were killed.

Sheik Abdullah Shami was arrested in his neighborhood in Gaza City, group officials said. Arafat's leadership issued orders to arrest Islamic Jihad members after the Wednesday bombing.

PHOTO CAPTION

Heavy machinery is used to clear the rubble of a damaged security building at the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Saturday June 8, 2002. Israeli troops destroyed several buildings in the compound during an incursion in Ramallah early Thursday. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)