Israeli army raided the West Bank early Tuesday and arrested 23
Palestinians, including the father of Sami Hamad, who carried out
Monday's Tel Aviv suicide bombing, Palestinian security sources
reported.
Palestinian witnesses said that Israeli soldiers raided the
attacker's village Araqah, west of the West Bank city of Jenin, and
took away Sami Hamad' father from his home.
Sami Hamad, 20, an Islamic Jihad (Holy War) militant, blew
himself up near the crowded old central bus station in southern Tel
Aviv on Monday, killing nine Israelis and wounding dozens of
others.
Meanwhile, Israel Radio confirmed Tuesday that Israeli soldiers
arrested 23 wanted Palestinians throughout the West Bank overnight.
Israel declared a state of emergency and put police and army on
high alert following Monday's deadly suicide bombing in Tel
Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided on Tuesday to refrain
from a major military action against the Hamas-led Palestinian
government which was held responsible for the attack, Israeli
Ha'aretz daily reported.
However, the Israeli army will tighten travel restrictions
between the Palestinian cities in the West Bank and continue
targeted killings against the armed factions' activists and
commanders, according to the Israeli army sources.
(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2006)
