Israel arrests head of elite Fatah force

Israeli soldiers today arrested the head of Force 17, an elite force linked to the Fatah Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, members of the force said.

They said Mahmoud Damra was arrested at an Israeli army roadblock outside the Palestinian city of Nablus.

The Israeli military confirmed the arrest and said he was responsible for the deaths of three Israelis in shooting attacks in 2000 and was involved in attacks on Israeli forces operating in the West Bank since then.

Force 17 was established by the late Yasser Arafat as the presidential guard. In recent years the force has branched out into other activities, and Israel has accused its members of involvement in attacks.