A member of the Islamic Jihad was killed on Wednesday afternoon during an Israeli army operation near the West Bank town of Tulkarem, a Palestinian source said. At least four other Palestinians were wounded. Palestinian sources identified the dead activist as Mazen Badawi.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that Israeli special forces arrested a senior Islamic Jihad official in the Jenin refugee camp.
According to reports, Israeli soldiers raided the house in which the leader of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin, Sheikh Bassam A-Saadi, 43, was hiding. The reports said Saadi tried to seek cover under a car, but was discovered by the Israeli occupation troops. Eyewitnesses said Saadi was beaten by the soldiers after his arrest.
Israel has been intensively trying to track down Saadi ever since the beginning of the Intifada, the Islamic Jihad website reported. It added that in the past years, Israeli troops killed Saadi's two sons and mother after they destroyed their house. Sheikh Nafez ‘Azzam, a leading official in the Islamic Jihad said the arrest of Saadi was a big blow to the movement, but added that its "fighters will continue in their Jihad and resistance."
According to Israeli reports, Saadi is responsible for many "suicide attacks", originating from the Jenin area.
Shortly after his capture, the Islamic Jihad vowed to avenge Saadi's arrest.
"The enemy will pay a dear price for beating Sheikh Bassam Saadi and for its daily crimes on our people," an official from the movement, Abdullah al-Shami said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
