WEST BANK (voa) – The Israeli army has pulled back to the outskirts of two West Bank Palestinian cities, while pushing deeper into other areas.
Palestinian security officials say Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships invaded the town of Dura early Tuesday. There were witness reports of a gunbattle in the area.
Israeli forces withdrew from Qalqilya and Tulkarm before dawn Tuesday, but remain20 on the outskirts. The army says its operation to wipe out militant networks in the two cities was successfully completed, and that troops are enforcing a tight blockade around each.
The Israeli pull-back came hours after U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and after a stern warning from President Bush to end the military offensive quickly.
Meanwhile, fighting rages on in the cities of Jenin and Nablus, where resistance to the Israeli military sweep has been far stronger.
The Israeli army says some Palestinian fighters in Nablus have surrendered. But news reports say many of the militants appear ready to fight to the death.
In Bethlehem, a stand-off between Israeli forces and Palestinians is continuing near the Church of the Nativity, where some 200 Palestinians – many of them armed – took refuge nearly a week ago.
