Israeli troops raid West Bank city

Israeli troops today raided the West Bank city of Nablus, surrounding a house and exchanging fire with Palestinians, witnesses said.

Witnesses reported heavy exchanges of fire and heard a number of explosions as at least 10 army jeeps cordoned off the house in the centre of the city.

One person was shot and wounded in the leg, hospital officials said.

Troops arrested two brothers, Shaher and Basher Asfouri, before leaving the area, witnesses said.

Neighbours said Shaher, 35, was a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a group loosely affiliated with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s Fatah party. Basher, 28, was not linked to any of the groups, they said.

The military had no immediate comment, but earlier said that troops had arrested two Palestinians in Nablus. They identified one as an Islamic Jihad member planning to carry out a suicide bombing in Israel.

Witnesses also said that Palestinian youths threw stones at the troops surrounding the house.

Nablus is a centre of militant activity, and a number of failed suicide bombing attempts have originated in the city in recent weeks.