Israeli troops have arrested 15 would-be Palestinian suicide bombers and intercepted three booby-trapped cars since they reoccupied the West Bank three weeks ago, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said today.
"We must stay there because there is no alternative to prevent one or two suicide bombers committing attacks in Israel every day or prevent terrorists from infiltrating in booby-trapped cars," he told public radio.
Mr Ben Eliezer said that since Israel reoccupied West Bank towns on June 19th, after two major suicide attacks, "fifteen suicide bombers who were preparing attacks were arrested and three booby-trapped cars ready to be used in Israel were intercepted."
Meanwhile, Israeli military radio said that 22 Palestinians were arrested overnight, including 19 who were wanted, in different parts of the West Bank.
AFP