Massive Crackdown on Terrorists

Israeli security forces raided the Balata refugee camp near Nablus early Sunday morning in a massive crackdown on terrorists held responsible for recent unrest in the West Bank. A number of arrests were made, including that of Jihad Mseimeh, described as head of the local branch of Shabiba, the El Fatah youth organization.

A deportation order was promptly issued by Maj. Gen. Amram Mitzna, commander of the central sector. It was not immediately carried out to give Mscimeh a chance to appeal to the military appeals board, as allowed by law.

A similar sweep in the Gaza Strip culminated in the deportation Sunday of Ahmad Nasser, a resident of the Khan Yunis refugee camp and the Shabiba leader there. He indicated he would not appeal and was expelled to Jordan.

The Balata camp, long one of the worst trouble spots in the West Bank, was hit by surprise following several gasoline bomb attacks on Israeli soldiers Saturday night which played caused no casualties. The camp was put under curfew and closed off as a military zone while suspects were lined up for questioning.

But women and children filled the narrow alleys of the camp chanting anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans. Tear gas was used to disperse them.

Mseimeh was a major catch. He was once sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for planting a bomb in the central square of Nablus and illegal possession of explosives. But he was freed three years ago as part of a prisoner exchange with the Syrian-backed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, headed by Ahmed Jabreel.

Since then he had been placed under administrative detention for four months on suspicion of terrorist acts. He resumed his subversive activities after his release, security sources said Sunday.

The arrest and deportation of Ahmed Nasser capped 10 days of counter-terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip during which several El Fatah cells were uncovered and a number of arrests made, it was disclosed Sunday.

The suspects are believed to have been responsible for terrorist and sabotage acts in the Gaza Strip and in Israel. A bomb explosion in a Ramat Gan market recently was attributed to the group, as was a bomb planted in a bus in Ashkelon. It was discovered before it exploded.

Two terrorists were killed in the Gaza Strip in recent days. One was shot fleeing security forces and the other blew himself up while making an explosive device.