By KUNA
Ramallah : Israeli forces conducted a wide-scale arrest campaign in the West Bank and some 23 Palestinians were arrested early Thursday.
Palestinian sources indicated the arrests were mainly in the Nablus area with 18 Palestinians arrested in the town of Beita alone, southern Nablus City.
They added a large number of troops broke into the city at dawn and started searching homes with the pretext of finding Palestinians wanted by the Israeli authorities.
One arrestee was Fatah official Ziyad Hilal.
Other arrests were in Tolkarem, Al-Khalil (Hebron), and Qalqiliya.
Meanwhile, Israeli Army sources said the arrests came in response to a shooting two days ago on a bus transporting settlers near Beita, an attack which left material damage but no casualties.
Al-Aqsa Brigades’ Fadi Qufaysheh Group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The army said its forces confiscated two pistols and ammunition during the Beita operation.