As I returned to Bethlehem from Jerusalem this afternoon, I found the
place overrun with Israeli soldiers. Dozens of soldiers were at the
three checkpoints I visited trying to get back into Bethlehem. The
main Bethlehem checkpoint, the big dirt mound in the middle of Beit
Jala, and the blocked road in El Hader. Some Palestinians were able
to pass while others were not. My taxi driver told me that there
were a lot of soldiers in Aida Camp now, so we avoided that area. I
took a few photos at Beit Jala, and I'll try to post them on my
website this evening.
Bob

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Hamas man killed, four IDF soldiers hurt in Bethlehem siege

By Arnon Regular,
Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

A Hamas activist was killed and four Israel Defense Forces soldiers
were wounded Monday in a siege of the militant's house at the Aida
refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

The military has launched a series of raids in Bethlehem following a
suicide bombing Thursday in which a Palestinian policeman from the
city blew himself up on a Jerusalem bus, killing 11 people.

The four soldiers all sustained light-to-moderate wounds. The Hamas
militant was identified as Mohammed Abu Ouda.

The IDF is continuing with its operation in the city.

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IDF kills Hamas fugitive near Bethlehem

By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH
Jerusalem Post

IDF forces, operating in the al-Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem on
the West Bank, have killed Hamas fugitive Mahmoud Aboroude after
surrounding a building he was hiding in.

Four soldiers fromt he army's elite Duvdevan unit suffered light-to-
moderate wounds during the attempt to arrest the Hamas fugitive.

The soldiers were transferred to Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem
Hospital.

A defense source said the operation was a 'pinpointed one' and was
not an incursion.