Israeli forces launch series of raids into Jericho

Ma’an – An Israeli army patrol launched a series of raids in Jericho at noon Thursday, onlookers said.

Four military vehicles entered the West Bank city and patrolled the central vegetable market, the city center and the Ein As-Sultan refugee camp, witnesses said.

Palestinian Authority commander Khalid Abu Kamel condemned the incursion, which he said was a provocative measure that showed the Israeli army does not respect the agreements signed with the PA.

A spokesman for the Israeli military said he was not familiar with the incident.

Under the 1993 Oslo peace agreement which divided the West Bank into three zones, Jericho falls into “Area A,” the 17 percent over which the PA has full control.

President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly demanded an end to incursions in West Bank cities, which he says undermine the PA security forces' authority.