JPost

Palestinian security forces in Nablus capture truck full of explosives

Palestinian security forces in Nablus raided a Hamas explosives factory overnight used by the organization in preparing terror attacks on Israel.

Outside the explosives lab, Palestinian Authority forces captured a truck on its way to distribute hundreds of kilograms of explosive material to terrorist cells across the West Bank.

PA security forces continued to carry out a wave of arrests overnight in an effort to meet Israeli demands that wanted terrorist figures be put in jail, Army Radio reported.

Two days after the cabinet declared the PA an "entity that supports terror," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres spoke twice by phone with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat yesterday, telling him that in the next 12 hours Arafat can determine the government's relationship towards the PA.

According to the PA, their security forces have arrested 60 Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah activists over the last few days.

Hamas's spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin continues to be held under PA house arrest in the Gaza Strip.

Three Palestinians were wounded outside Yassin's house overnight in a gunbattle between Hamas men and PA police officers.

For more on the 12-hour extension Israel granted yesterday to the PA, click here.

PA officials said it will be difficult for them to meet Israel's 12-hour ultimatum, especially since Israel is hindering the movement of his security forces.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2001