WORLD> Middle East
Israel arrests 9 Palestinians in West Bank
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-23 19:50

RAMALLAH  -- Israeli forces arrested nine Palestinians during raids in West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said on Monday.

The detentions took place in Nablus, Ramallah, and Qabatya, the Palestinian sources said.

Israeli sources said that nine wanted Palestinians were arrested and taken to interrogation.

The West Bank, where President Mahmoud Abbas' forces control, is not included in a six-month ceasefire which took place in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Thursday.

The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire restored calm to the costal strip but the Palestinians still wait to see a touchable improve in the lifting of the blockade which Israel imposed last June when Hamas took over the area.

Though abided by the ceasefire, some Palestinian factions, mainly the Islamic Jihad, vowed to respond to Israeli raids.