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Palestinian boys holding pictures of jailed Hamas officials during a rally protesting Israel's campaign against the group in the West Bank City of Nablus on Friday. (Reuters)
Last update - 16:44 26/05/2007
IDF arrests Hamas cabinet minister in West Bank raid
By News Agencies

Israel Defense Forces troops raided the West Bank home of a cabinet minister in the Hamas-led Palestinian unity government on Saturday and arrested him as part of a widening offensive against Hamas in response to increased Qassam rocket attacks on Israel in recent weeks.

"This aggression will not achieve its goals but it will lead to further escalations that will have dangerous consequences," Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said on Saturday.

The arrest of Minister of State Wasfi Kabha came two days after a sweeping arrest campaign in which 33 members of Hamas' political wing were arrested in the West Bank in late night raids.

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Kabha's daughter, Ryan, said five soldiers came to their house before dawn, took her father, his computer and some of his documents. Kabha, a minister without portfolio, was also arrested last year for a month during a similar sweep.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is trying to negotiate a truce between the militant groups and Israel. No agreement has been reached. Israel hit several militant targets in Gaza early Saturday, including two locations near the home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. He was not hurt.

On Thursday, the IDF and Shin Bet security service arrested 33 Hamas members. Among them were Palestinian Education Minister Nasser al-Shaer, four mayors and three members of the Palestinian parliament.

The last time Israel arrested Hamas politicians was in June 2006, immediately after Hamas kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit to Gaza in a cross-border raid.

Also Thursday, Palestinians opened fire on IDF soldiers carrying out an arrest operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. Soldiers returned fire, the military said. One militant was killed in the gunbattle, Army Radio reported.

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24 hours in Tiberias
Faith-restoring Kebab; a tour of the Old City, and whiskey at the Scots Hotel.
The city on the hill
A new book on Jews and Arabs in Haifa has valuable anecdotes, but misreads the past.
  1.   If Israel doesn`t bring them to trial it is simply hostage taking 11:41  |  Petteri 26/05/07
  2.   #1 You better go to the Pals website: they collect Anti-Semites. 14:32  |  Richard Long 26/05/07
  3.   Petteri, do you think kidnapping young soldiers 14:42  |  The Equalizer 26/05/07
  4.   This cabinet minister had been trying to figure out how to stop 14:47  |  lakshmi 26/05/07
  5.   #1 Silly post by a frozen Finnish mind 15:39  |  Martin 26/05/07
  6.   arrest of palestinian politician 16:37  |  Klaus 26/05/07
  7.   Anti-Semitic? 16:45  |  Jodie McNamara 26/05/07
  8.   Only in Israel this could happen 16:57  |  Victor_The_Egyptian 26/05/07
  9.   Petri,Klaus and Jodie,all valid posts and I am in agreement 17:01  |  lakshmi 26/05/07
  10.   Terrorist? Politican? 17:10  |  Jodie McNamara 26/05/07
  11.   to all crap of anti semite 17:42  |  Rimon 26/05/07
  12.   enough of this anti semtism crap 17:46  |  Rimon 26/05/07
  13.   Petteri and MacNamara, Israel fights for survival 18:23  |  Jorge 26/05/07
  14.   Two Wake-up Calls 18:36  |  Richard Womack 26/05/07
  15.   Haaretz Turning Farfurish 18:42  |  Tex 26/05/07
  16.   Rimon 11...then prepare your casket 18:52  |  The Equalizer 26/05/07
  17.   "Capture" entire PA cabinet and then trade them for the corporal 19:42  |  Voice of Reason 26/05/07
  18.   hostages 19:53  |  michel 26/05/07
  19.   Petteri 20:30  |  vegetarian 26/05/07
  20.   dear Klauss 20:36  |  Svetlana 26/05/07
  21.   European Advice 23:48  |  Steve Dill 26/05/07
  22.   Advice to Europeans ... 23:57  |  Steve dill 26/05/07
  23.   Jorge and Steve 08:48  |  Jodie McNamara 27/05/07
  24.   response to Iakshmi 08:58  |  Jodie McNamara 27/05/07
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