Israel raids downtown Nablus

Nablus: Israeli troops raided downtown Nablus early on Thursday, imposing a curfew that confined tens of thousands of people to their homes as soldiers combed the city's narrow alleyways in search of wanted Palestinian militants.

Five soldiers were wounded in clashes with Palestinian gunmen, the army said.

The crackdown drew angry condemnations from the new Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to bolster Abbas' government, which is locked in a power struggle with the Islamic Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.

"We view this aggression as a way to undermine our efforts to provide security and end the chaos," Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said at a conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The Nablus operation began late Wednesday, just as Israel was wrapping up two incursions in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. In those raids, Israeli forces killed 11
Palestinians, including eight gunmen and a 12-year-old boy. It was the bloodiest fighting in Gaza since the Hamas takeover two weeks ago.

During more than six years of fighting, Israel has frequently raided Nablus, calling it a hotbed of militant activity. Dozens of suicide bombers have originated from
the Nablus area.

The army said Thursday's operation was meant to "disrupt the terror activity in Nablus."

In what has become a routine procedure, the army interrupted broadcasts on the city's radio and TV stations, telling residents not to go outside.

On Thursday morning, the streets were empty except for armored military jeeps.

Five soldiers were wounded by bombs as they moved from home to home through the densely populated Old City, the army said. Militants linked to Abbas' Fatah movement
claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, said the Israeli government is committed to working with Abbas, but would not risk the safety of its own citizens.

The swift victory of Hamas forces over Fatah in Gaza has left the Palestinians divided into two political entities: the West Bank, governed by Fatah, and Hamas-controlled
Gaza.

This week, Abbas announced that he would disarm all militants in the West Bank, even those who are loyal to Fatah. But it is unclear how the weakened Abbas would
enforce the order. He has made similar pledges in the past that were never carried out.