Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says the fist stage of his country's West Bank offensive is over as Israeli forces withdraw from more key Palestinian cities. 

But Mr. Sharon says Operation Defensive Shield will continue using what he calls "a different method." He did not elaborate. The Israeli leader says the first stage of the offensive has achieved profound results in the struggle against terrorism. Israeli officials say 15 of Israel's most-wanted Palestinian terrorists have been captured or killed in the the 23-day operation. 

Israel says its forces are completing their pullout from Nablus and Ramallah but will keep a tight military cordon around the cities to prevent Palestinians from attacking Israelis. 

Israeli forces will also continue surrounding Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in central Ramallah and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where a standoff continues between Israeli troops and several hundred Palestinians who have taken refuge in the church. 

Five Palestinian youths emerged from the church and surrendered to Israeli forces Sunday. 

Palestinian officials are dismissing Israel's withdrawal as a media gimmick, saying Israeli forces are still in control of Palestinian areas. Meanwhile, heavy exchanges of gunfire were reported Sunday at the Qalandiyah refugee camp in Ramallah, during a raid by Israeli forces searching for what the army called Palestinian terrorists. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version