Israeli Troops Deployed In Qalqilya And Tulkarem

Israeli troops were deployed on October 20 in two other Palestinian towns - Qalqilya and Tulkarem. According to preliminary data, the operation was conducted with participation of 40 tanks, which surrounded the towns. In the course of the clash, which followed the operation, four Palestinians were killed and several people allegedly involved in terrorist activities were arrested. Israeli armoured vehicles had previously blocked the Palestinian towns of Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus and Bethlehem, as well as two Arab villages of Beit Jala and Beit Sahur south of Jerusalem. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem continued throughout the October 19. The other day, Washington called on Israel to stop the invasion of the Palestinian territories. The address read that "Israel should better keep away from the Palestinian territories and stop all provocations in order to avoid excessive tension in the region." Commenting this address, Israeli Minister of Justice Meir Sheetrit stated that his country "does not want to have anything to do with Palestinians at all, but it has to ensure the security of its citizens."