RAMALLAH – The Israeli army carried out an arrest campaign Friday against Palestinian activists and labors in various West Bank towns, bringing the number to 19 in the last 24 hours. Palestinian sources said that the Israeli army arrested four Palestinians in the town of Beit Fajjar, to the south of Bethlehem, and three in the town of Tammoun, to the southeast of Jenin. Israeli soldiers searched the houses of the residents before arresting them. They were taken to unknown locations for questioning by agents of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal intelligence. The Israeli army spokesman's unit said in a statement that “in the light of recent terrorist and violent activity in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and as part of the security forces' attempt to restore calm to the area, the decision was made to carry out the arrests.” “The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will continue to operate to maintain order in the area and to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Israeli communities,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers manning crossing between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip detained nine Palestinian laborers. The Israeli's Army Radio said that the men were attempting to enter Israel illegally in order to look for work. The men were arrested and taken in for questioning. The report added that the Israeli soldiers became suspicious when they noticed a wall behind seats in the truck, owned by an Arab Palestinian, that seemed out of place. They found an opening in the wall and saw the nine hiding behind it. Hundreds of unemployed Palestinian workers risk their lives by creeping into Israel to look for jobs in the labor market as the rate of joblessness in the Palestinian territory hits 24.9 percent. Israel says some 32,000 Palestinians earn their living inside the country and another 27,750 Palestinians work for Israeli employers in the West Bank.
