Israeli Troops Withdraw from JeninIsraeli troops withdrew from Jenin after entering the Palestinian town in the West Bank and attacked positions of Palestinian security force there early Tuesday morning, said Tayeb Abdul-Rahim, secretary general of the Palestinian presidency.The Israeli troops, covered by tanks and helicopter gunships, stormed into the center of the city late Monday night and took over some buildings belonging to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Israeli bulldozers destroyed two Palestinian police stations and the troops entered PNA's security headquarters in Jenin. Fierce exchange of fire broke out between the Israeli troops and armed Palestinians, including Jenin-based Islamic Jihad (Holy War) members. Palestinian witnesses said that they saw two bodies lying on a street after being hit by Israeli gunfire. Tensions were high overnight around Jenin as Israeli army concentrated a large force near what Israeli security officials termed as the "city of suicide bombers." Palestinians said earlier that around 40 tanks and armored vehicles, 400 soldiers and ambulances had been moved to new positions near Jenin, which was handed over to Palestinian rule in 1995 under interim peace deals. The Israeli attack was seen as a retaliation for Sunday's suicide bombing attack by a Jihad member near Israel's northern coastal city of Haifa, which left 21 Israelis injured. |
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