Israeli army imposes curfew in West Bank

AAP - 9/4/2004 12:58:00 PM GMT

Israeli army imposed curfew in four northern West Bank villages as Israeli occupation soldiers conducted a massive search operation for Palestinian resistance fighters, Palestinian security sources said.

The curfew was imposed in the villages of Jaba, Sandakumieh and Asafa.

It was imposed in Hilat Adaher the previous day following clashes between Israeli occupation troops and Palestinian protesters.

All four villages are close to the town of Jenin.

Israeli occupation soldiers were going house to house looking for Palestinian fighters. They also surrounded a school in Jaba.

The whole region has witnessed intense military activities since Tuesday's twin attacks in the southern Israeli city of Beersheca, which was carried out by Hamas fighters.

Fighting erupted between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters after an incursion into the village of Yamun.

In the Fara refugee camp, a Palestinian was seriously injured by Israeli fire. In the town of Tubas, Israeli soldiers were greeted by stone-throwing protesters.

The Israeli military declined to comment on details of the operations, confirming only that they had arrested five Hamas members in the West Bank.