Israel Arrests 18 Palestinians

Israeli forces in the West Bank stepped up operations against suspected Palestinian militants Wednesday, invading villages, arresting 18 suspects and clashing with gunmen. One militant was killed, along with an Israeli soldier.

Among those detained was Mahmoud Hasib, a senior official of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement. Hasib, arrested in Ramallah, was an assistant to Marwan Barghouti, the West Bank Fatah leader captured by Israel in April.

Israeli security sources said Hasib recruited young Palestinians to carry out attacks against Israelis and was involved in two fatal shootings.

Five other Palestinians were captured in an Israeli raid on an Islamic Jihad hide-out in the northern West Bank village of Saida, the military said. An Israeli soldier and one of the militants were killed.

Twelve Palestinians were detained in other raids. In Kalkilya, soldiers stopped a suspicious-looking car and found two bombs inside. Two Palestinians in the vehicle were captured after they were wounded trying to escape.

Arafat, meanwhile, held a second day of consultations about the new position of prime minister.

The Palestinian parliament approved the post and delineated the premier’s powers Monday.

Arafat agreed to the position last month under pressure from the United States, Europe, Israel and his own people. He has said he would appoint his longtime deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, marking the first time in nearly four decades that Arafat has shared the leadership of the Palestinian movement.

Abbas, known as Abu Maazen, is expected to take a leading role in peace talks with Israel. However, Arafat remains in command of Palestinian security forces and has the last word on peace negotiations.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Wednesday that Abbas’ appointment will not help stop the terror if Arafat stays in command.

Ahmed Ghanem, a Fatah official, said Abbas has a respected political track record.

Arafat was expected to sign the legislation creating the post of premier today and name Abbas, giving him two weeks to form a new Cabinet.

If Arafat asks for changes in the law, the parliament will have to reconvene for another vote.

In the Gaza Strip, the Iraqi-backed Arab Liberation Front handed out checks for $260,000 to Palestinian families whose relatives were killed in clashes with Israeli forces or whose houses were destroyed.