,

Israeli Troops Storm Arraba, Abu Elhaija Imprisoned for Life

WEST BANK, Palestine, April12, 2005 (IPC+ Agencies)--- 

The Israeli occupation troops swept yesterday night into the Aarraba and Azzoun in the West Bank, as an Israeli military court sentenced a Palestinian resident for nine-times life imprisonment.

Fourteen armored Israeli vehicles invaded yesterday night the West Bank town of Arraba, south of Jenin City, and broke into a number of Palestinian-owned houses, arresting J'afar Abu Salah, 36, Hassan Abu Slalah 28 and Fadi Abu Salah, 26 then took them to unknown destination, witnesses said.

Also, the Israeli troops closed the Qalqilia city and stormed the city's eastern outskirt of Azzoun, and placed a military checkpoint near Azzoun's hotel.

Local sources confirmed that the Israeli troops barred access of locals from and to Azzoun, as the soldiers broke into houses, detaining a number of residents identified as Ahmad Shraim, 16, Rani Ewaisi, 22 and Mohammad Eewasi, 23.

In another development, IPC correspondent in the West Bank city of Nablus, reported that the Israeli troops imposed early this morning curfew on the Hewara neighborhood, south of the city.

Head of Hewara council, Wajeeh Auda, said that the Israeli troops' patrols have been deployed in the streets, barring access of inhabitants.

Auda said that the Hewara neighborhood has been witnessing provocative Israeli measures over the past several days, a matter that inflicted damages to owners of stores and the educational process.

Life Imprisonment

In the meantime time, an Israeli military court sentenced on Monday Sheikh Jamal Abu Elhaija, 49, of the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, to nine times life imprisonment for alleged role in the Intifada against the Israeli occupation.

Abu Elhaija, who is a senior member of the Hamas movement, has been responsible over the past few years, for the food and financial assistance being offered to families of Palestinian wounded and detainees, local sources said.

The sources added that Abu Elhaija sustained in the 2002 Israeli troops massive invasion in Jenin, an explosive Israeli bullet that caused his arm to be amputated, while he was defending such a refugee camp along whih the camp's inhabitants.