Six Palestinians were arrested in overnight raids in the West Bank by Israeli troops late Sunday and early Monday morning. One man, reportedly a member of the Islamic Jihad faction, was arrested near the town of Hebron, and four others, believed to members of Hamas and the Popular Liberation Front factions were arrested outside the town of Ramallah.
In a separate incident overnight, the Israeli checkpoint at Awata, south of Nablus, was fired upon by Palestinians. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Israel's Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, called on Monday for the resumption of assassinations against those who are responsible for Qassam rocket fire emanating from the Gaza Strip.
"We will continue to use all the means at our disposal in order to prevent attacks against Israeli citizens," one Israeli military source told reporters.
On Sunday the Israeli Air Force launched an aerial attack on the Gaza Strip which included missiles fired on suspected rocket launching sites.
The attack was reportedly in response to three rockets which were fired into Israel earlier that day, for which the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
In addition, jets set off sonic booms and the offices of an Islamic Jihad charity were reportedly targeted. Israeli military sources claim that the site was a front for terror-related activity, according to Haaretz.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
