Israeli army leaves Bethlehem after four-day invasion

Israeli tanks and soldiers have begun withdrawing from the West Bank town of Bethlehem after a four-day invasion.

Witnesses said the Israeli army began withdrawing from the town and the adjacent Dheisheh refugee camp this afternoon, heading for a checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Israeli forces invaded the town and surrounding villages on Monday, imposing a curfew that confined tens of thousands of civilians to their homes.

The soldiers conducted searches of homes and arrested suspected militants, including a man Israel claims is the leader of a militant cell which sent a suicide bomber to the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion on May 22.