Israelis storm Palestinian prison

Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian prisoners and guards
Israeli troops have raided a prison in Jericho in the West Bank, demolishing buildings and killing at least one Palestinian guard.
A jailed militant leader whom Israel wants to arrest is refusing to give himself up. Israel blames him for killing an Israeli minister in 2001.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has condemned UK and US prison monitors for withdrawing shortly before the raid. (BBC).

Once again, the PA is expected to clean up its own house, yet has its infrastructure attacked and destroyed when Israel sees fit. Once again Israeli military supremacy allows the Israelis to do exactly as they please...

Israeli troops are reported to have threatened to kill the [remaining] prisoners if they do not surrender.

Conditions at Mr Saadat's jail were unsatisfactory, monitors say
Reports from the scene said 50 jeeps, three tanks, and an armoured bulldozer pushed into the oasis town in the Jordan valley, as two helicopters hovered overhead.

Surrendering guards and prisoners were strip-searched by the Israeli troops outside the compound, where they were filmed by TV crews.

Mr Saadat was arrested in connection with the killing of right-wing Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi by PFLP gunmen in 2001, an attack which itself was to avenge the assassination of Mr Saadat's predecessor by Israel.

Mr Saadat has been in Palestinian custody since early in 2002 - and was moved to Jericho under international supervision in a deal to lift Israel's siege of Yasser Arafat's Muqataa compound in May of that year.

The following month the Palestinian High Court ordered his release, saying there was no evidence to link him to the Zeevi assassination.

Israeli officials said Mr Saadat would be killed if he was freed, and the Palestinian cabinet blocked the release. [my emphasis]

In pictures.

Keywords: Israel, Palestine, Saadat, Palestinian Authority