Occupied Jerusalem — The Israeli army Saturday said it was lifting a blockade imposed on the West Bank town of Qabatiya.
“Based on an assessment of the situation, it was decided to lift the blockade of Qabatiya,” a military spokeswoman told AFP.
Three men from Qabatiya, near Jenin, on Wednesday allegedly attacked police with guns and knives outside Jerusalem’s Old City, killing a female officer and wounding another before being shot dead.
Following the alleged attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met top security officials, who decided to bolster forces in the northern West Bank.
The army also cut access to the northern West Bank town of 15,000 people and began a security sweep of the area.
It arrested 10 people, relatives and acquaintances of the three young people believed to be 19 to 20 years old who killed the Israeli border policewoman.
During the operation, the army also measured up the houses of the assailants for later demolition, a common practice after deadly attacks on Israelis.
There were also clashes between soldiers and residents during the sweep of Qabatiya.
Several people from the town, which was turbulent during the first and second intifadas, have been killed in the violence that has rocked the Palestinian Territories and Israel for four months. The unrest has claimed the lives of 165 Palestinians, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean since it erupted last October 1. — AP
