Palestinian Police Crack Down on Islamic Militants in Response to Jerusalem Suicide Bombing

Palestinian police launched a major crackdown on Islamic militants in response to a suicide bombing that killed three Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim. The operation, which included raids on scores of houses and a mosque, resulted in the arrest of over 100 people. The Palestinian self-rule authority, led by Yasser Arafat, has long been at odds with Islamic militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the crackdown is seen as a bid to quell the growing insurgency.

Key Takeaways:

• The Palestinian police arrested over 100 people in a crackdown on Islamic militants, following a suicide bombing that killed three Israeli soldiers.
• The operation targeted scores of houses and a mosque, and was carried out in response to a request from Israel to crack down on militant groups.
• The Palestinian self-rule authority, led by Yasser Arafat, accused the Israeli government of being responsible for the attack, citing the presence of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.
• The crackdown is seen as a bid to quell the growing insurgency by Islamic militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
• The operation has heightened tensions between Yasser Arafat's government and Islamic militant forces, who have long denounced him as a collaborator with Israel.
• Islamic Jihad, a violent organization that pledges allegiance to Iran, has been a key target of the crackdown, along with its rival Hamas, which has made overtures to the Palestinian government.
• The Palestinian government has also decided to put some Muslim leaders on its wanted list and ban political rallies by opponents of the Israel-PLO accord.

Statistics:

• Over 100 people were arrested in the crackdown on Islamic militants.
• 3 Israeli soldiers were killed in the suicide bombing that prompted the operation.
• 11 people were wounded in the blast.
• The Palestinian self-rule authority vowed to continue its crackdown on militant groups, despite escalating tensions with Islamic militant forces.
• The operation targeted scores of houses and a mosque in the West Bank.
• 19 Jewish settlements exist in the Gaza Strip.

Sources:

• New York Times
• Reuter