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Last update - 13:49 15/07/2008 Palestinians: IDF arrests three Hamas officials in Nablus raid By The Associated Press Tags: Hamas, Israel, Nablus Israel Defense Forces troops early Tuesday arrested three Hamas council members in a raid on the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Over the past year, Israel has arrested Nablus' Hamas mayor and six of the Hamas-controlled municipal council's 14 members in its efforts to crack down on the militant group's activities in the West Bank The IDF did not immediately comment on the raid, which occurred in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses and residents say a total of 24 Hamas members were arrested, including the municipal officials. Advertisement Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his government have said the Israeli raids on Nablus damage his standing among the Palestinian public. Palestinians recently deployed security forces in Nablus and elsewhere in the West Bank under a security plan integral to peace talks. The IDF last week shut down a number of Hamas institutions in the northern West Bank city, including a mall, a support group for militants jailed in Israel, an Islamic trade union organization, a medical society and two aid organizations in the Nablus refugee camps of Askar and Balata. Troops have also shut down a girls school, a sports club and the headquarters of the Solidarity charity. Over the last few years, Hamas has built an "organizational system that, if necessary, could serve as the basis for a state," a senior IDF official told Haaretz last week. "It's simply a 'state of associations.' They accumulate a lot of popular support and rely on an enormous infusion of funds from abroad, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year, from bodies in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Muslim communities in Europe, the United States and South America." Related articles: DF shuts down Nablus mall in campaign against Hamas Barak outlaws 36 NGOs for Hamas fundraising Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah's pleasure For Israelis, the release of Kuntar is a form of self-inflicted torture. Exchange timeline How the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah will be carried out.   1.   Armed Struggle until Destruction of Israel. 12:14  |  Jean Van Daem 15/07/08   2.   More hostages to exchange for Shalit 14:01  |  Clickfool 15/07/08   3.   Hamas won the elections 15:13  |  Born free and equal 15/07/08   4.   Israel`s Arrest Of Hamas Mayor 16:07  |  Clickfool 15/07/08   5.   Arresting elected officials 17:18  |  Harold 15/07/08   6.   To clickfool...I am sure your son wasn`t amongst punished 17:49  |  Arie 15/07/08   7.   More Kidnappings by Israel 17:57  |  POP 15/07/08   8.   Free and equal nonsense 18:24  |  utagawa 15/07/08   9.   Hostages for Abbas`s good behavior??? 18:42  |  Voice of Reason 15/07/08   10.   Free and Equal Nonsense 18:44  |  Marc 15/07/08   11.   Hitler, Hamas and West Bank 01:29  |  Frank 16/07/08   12.   Of Mice and men 03:29  |  Guy From NYC 16/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 63 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 190 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 112 Cabinet okays Hezbollah prisoner swap, exchange set for Wednesday Responses: 122 Rosner's Domain The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 02:50 Israel readies for Hezbollah prisoner swap 23:59 Mother of Kuntar victim: How can you pardon him? 23:56 Lebanon declares state holiday marking return of prisoners 22:52 TIMELINE: How the prisoner exchange will be carried out 23:40 Anti-terror unit warns Israelis in Sinai face danger of abduction 02:21 Olmert questioned over never-repaid $75,000 loan from Jewish-American businessman 01:24 Holocaust survivors in need of long-term hospital care strapped for funds 02:26 Joint secular-observant Jewish school system approved 23:37 Talansky: Olmert's lawyers won't break me in cross-questioning 17:07 Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture 21:05 Blair nixes Gaza visit in light of Shin Bet warning of attack 20:37 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 03:00 TB's secret, hidden in ancient bones 02:02 Justice Dept. seeks to revoke citizenship of man accused of serving in Nazi unit Previous Editions Select Day 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul

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