Israeli troops arrested 21 Palestinian men in the West Bank overnight Thursday, family members of the Palestinians who carried out the attacks in Tel Aviv and Emmanuel. The men, who were detained near Nablus, are the fathers, brothers and sons of the attackers.
According to Haaretz, sources in the Israeli army said that the men would be exiled to the Gaza Strip. The sources added the Israeli army had been pressing to take such measures for a while, but the step was only approved recently.
Asked if he supported their exile, Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told the radio: "As far as I know, it has undergone legal scrutiny, and if legally possible, yes."
Family members of those who will be deported said that they would take legal action against this move, and would appeal to the high court if necessary. They added that they would also operate through Palestinian channels to prevent the exile.
It is believed to be the first time since the current Palestinian uprising began that Israel has acted against the families of Palestinian activists in this way. However, it is not clear if the deportation will go ahead - the Israeli attorney general has blocked the idea in the past on legal grounds.
In a statement, Hamas threatened to launch "unique martyrdom operations," if the deportations are carried out. "Our answer to the Zionists will be strong and bloody, we will send explosive messages to the Zionists everywhere we can get to," said the statement.
Meanwhile, the army demolished the houses of the Palestinians who sent the attackers to carry out the attacks, but were unable to apprehend the two.
In Nablus, the Israeli army destroyed the house of Nasser Asida, a prominent Hamas activist who was responsible for the two Emmanuel attacks, one earlier this week and one in December, in which 20 Israelis were killed.
Additionally, the Israeli army destroyed the house of Ali Ajouri in the refugee camp al-Askar in Nablus, head of the Fatah faction in the city. Ajouri was one of the operators who sent the two suicide bombers to Tel Aviv on Wednesday night in which three people were killed, Israeli media reports said.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat denounced the deportation idea as a war crime and violation of the fourth Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of civilians in war zones. "When nations in the year 2002 decide on collective punishment, and decide to deport (families) from one place to another, this is a war crime, and we will pursue it as such," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
