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June 28, 2007

Palestinian PM Protests Israeli West Bank Raid
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17F93A1:A6F02AD83191E16039BE8B6BFF8B5EEE9574F7DCC14957C0 Prime Minister
Salam Fayyad says Israel is trying to sabotage Palestinian efforts to
improve security





Israeli soldiers take positions during an army operation in the West
Bank City of Nablus Thursday, 28 June 2007Israeli troops have raided
the West Bank town of Nablus, in an operation that Palestinian
officials say undermines the embattled government of President Mahmoud
Abbas.

The Israeli military says soldiers riding in more than 50 vehicles
searched homes for wanted militants and imposed a curfew.  At least
two Palestinians were arrested and five Israeli soldiers wounded in
the operation.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad says Israel is trying to
sabotage Palestinian efforts to improve security.  He heads the
emergency government created after the militant group Hamas seized
Gaza earlier this month.

Israel has pledged to support the government of President Abbas, but
officials said Thursday they will continue to conduct operations
against militants.

On Wednesday, troops raided the Gaza Strip, killing at least 12
Palestinians in an operation targeting Palestinian rocket teams.

Also Wednesday, the international Middle East Quartet named Britain's
Tony Blair as its envoy to promote peace between Israel and the
Palestinians.  The Quartet is made of the United Nations, the United
States, the European Union and Russia.

The Quartet said recent events in the Gaza Strip and West Bank make it
more urgent than ever to advance the search for peace in the Middle
East.

Hamas seized control of Gaza in fighting with Mr. Abbas's faction
faction earlier this month.

Hamas says it does not expect Mr. Blair to be impartial because he has
previously supported American and Israeli positions.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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