Despite the world's comdemnation on its aggression,ignoring the world's urging for its immediate withdrawal, Israel continued and expanded its military actions in Palestine controlled areas. The following are the latest military development of Israeli troops.
Israeli Army to Storm PA Security Headquarters
Israeli tanks rolling into the West Bank town of Ramallah since Friday headed early Tuesday towards the neighboring town of Bitonia to storm the main headquarters of the West Bank preventive security headed by Colonel Jibril Rajoub, security sources said.
Colonel Rajoub said there were 400 employees, including female that he gave his strict orders to defend the headquarters until the last security officer.
Rajoub said that about 14 tanks had reached the main gates of the headquarters. He is receiving reports that fierce armed confrontations are taking place between Israeli troops and preventive security officers.
A reporter for the Abu Dhabi Television said that the Israeli tanks are firing at the preventive security headquarters with heavy gunfire. The preventive security officers inside the building told him that they would fight to the end.
"There would be a real massacre if the Israeli army enters into the headquarters," said Rajoub, adding that his men "would fight the Israeli troops and defend their building no matter what the cost is."
Israeli Troops Enter Bethlehem
The Israeli Army has started a wide offensive into the West Bank town of Bethlehem, entering the city and occupying several buildings, a reporter for Wafa News Agency said early Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli army tanks, armored vehicles and infantry troops made an incursion into Bethlehem from the southern, northern and western sides of the town and are rolling into the city center.
They said armed confrontations between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants erupted during the incursion.
Supported by helicopters during the incursion, the Israeli troops poured heavy gunfire into several Palestinian buildings and later occupied several buildings and stationed military posts there, witnesses said.
Palestinian residents of Bethlehem said dozens of tanks and armored vehicles stormed the Deheisha refugee camp and occupied the villages of Beit Ta'mar and the Ebayat after moving into the surrounding villages of Beit Jalla and Beit Sahour.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2002)
