israelinsider: security: IDF withdraws from Kalkilya and Tulkarm but operations continue

IDF withdraws from Kalkilya and Tulkarm but operations continue
By Ellis Shuman April 9, 2002


		04/09 Sharon starts to withdraw the army as Bush gets tough Ha'aretz 04/09 IDF begins pullout after 2 soldiers killed Jerusalem Post


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Israeli soldiers on top of an armored personnel carrier as the army moved into Tulkarm last week. (AP)


	Heavy battles continue in Jenin as IDF controls Nablus casbah

	Sharon tells Bush: Israel to expedite end of military operations

	Israeli operations will go on despite Bush demand as Sharon augments right wing

Israeli forces withdrew overnight from Kalkilya and Tulkarm and redeployed outside the Palestinian towns to prevent terrorists from leaving towards Israel. The move came following intense American pressure calling for an immediate withdrawal, and in advance of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's arrival in Israel on Friday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged that Operation Defensive Shield combating terrorist infrastructure would continue, and heavy fighting was reported Tuesday in the Jenin refugee camp.

The army's "redeployment was decided upon following the completion of IDF action in these cities," said a statement issued by Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. The army "struck a severe blow at the infrastructures of terror, including the arrests of wanted fugitives and clashing with armed terrorist elements, and capturing large quantities of weapons, war materiel, bombs and explosives," the statement said.

Military sources said the redeployment had been ordered by the political echelon in light of Powell's arrival. On the first step of his Middle East cease-fire mission in Morocco, Powell called for "a clear statement from Israel that they are beginning to withdraw." President George W. Bush reiterated his harsh rebuke of the Israeli actions yesterday when he stated, "I expect there to be withdrawal without delay."

The American demand for an Israeli withdrawal was relayed to Sharon by special envoy Anthony Zinni. Sharon told Zinni that Israel must remain in Palestinian territories until the anti-terror campaign is completed to prevent a return of suicide bombers, Sharon's adviser Danny Ayalon said. Even so, Ayalon noted that the withdrawals would begin shortly.

Sharon also acceded to another request presented by Zinni when he agreed to allow four senior Palestinian Authority officials - Abu Mazen, Abu Ala, Mohammed Dahlan and Saeb Erekat - to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in his besieged presidential compound in Ramallah. The Palestinians will reportedly discuss the latest cease-fire proposals formulated by Zinni.

"It's a start," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, following the reports of the withdrawals from Kalkilya and Tulkarm. "As the president said ... all parties in the Middle East have responsibilities and the president expects all parties to step up to them."

On Monday, Sharon told the Knesset that Israel would press on with Operation Defensive Shield "until it has dismantled Arafat's terror infrastructure and the murderers hiding in different places have been arrested." After the operation was completed, Israeli forces would withdraw to unspecified "buffer zones" to be determined by the government, which would serve as a buffer between Palestinian areas and Israeli residents. "The places we leave must have a responsible Palestinian leadership that will take over the areas," Sharon added.

Heavy battles in Dura, Nablus and Jenin
IDF forces operated overnight in the village of Dura, south of Hebron, "with the goal of apprehending wanted suspects and executing searches for weapons," the army said. Palestinian sources said two people were killed during the army's operations.

The army reported that it had discovered 16 explosives laboratories in the casbah marketplace area of Nablus. "They contained explosive devices ready for detonation, materials for the production of explosives and additional weaponry," the army said.

Dozens of gunmen reportedly surrendered to Israeli troops in Nablus. Some 50 Palestinians were killed in gun battles there as the army took control of the casbah on Monday, media sources said.

Heavy battles continued in the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday morning. Gunfire exchanges between Israeli troops and armed Palestinians were ongoing in an area described by the Israeli media as a "70 meter by 70 meter" (230 feet by 230 feet) concentration of houses. Many explosive devices were thrown at soldiers. Brig. Gen. Eyal Shline said the armed men "seem to have decided to fight to the last, to make the battle as bloody as possible" and that several blew themselves up in suicide attacks on soldiers, the Associated Press reported.