The small time oasis city of Jericho in Palestinian Territories (PT) saw a surprise attack by Israeli troops to capture a leader of leftist Popular Front for the liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat. The Israeli Army assisted by 1 helicopter, 3 tanks, a bulldozer, and 52 jeeps laid siege to a jail after the American and British observers left and went away with Saadat. An Israeli Army spokesperson said that they have taken 182 prisoners for questioning.

PT President Mahmoud Abbas accused the Americans and British for the raid saying it was part of the 2002 agreement that they would guarantee Saadat’s safety. There is no information on why the observers left. However, protests against Danish cartoons, forming of a Hamas Government, and increasing threats against Westerners may have caused their departure. The Israeli raid may have been to forestall the release of Saadat, wanted for the assassination of a right-wing Minister in 2001, from prison by the Hamas Government. Whatever the reason, this is a serious breach of and international agreement and both Israel and the US/UK combine must explain the rationale for the change in ground situation.