Shopping mall in West Bank taken over by troops

Middle East News.Net
Tuesday 8th July, 2008

Israeli troops have stormed a shopping mall in the West Bank city of Nablus, after claiming the centre had been frequented by Hamas members.

The five-story mall, in one of the most popular spots in Nablus, was taken by the troops who entered shops and informed owners they would be closed down.

The order, signed by an Israeli general who oversees the West Bank, said the building would be closed on August 15th, giving shop owners more than a month to move their businesses.

Nablus serves as the West Bank's commercial center.

The mutli-storey mall in Hebron is owned by varied Palestinian interests, but the board of directors is chaired by a man who has links to Hamas.

The man, Adli Yaish, who is also the Mayor of Nablus, has been sent to an Israeli prison.

The overnight move was the latest in a widening crackdown on the militant Islamic group in the West Bank.

Hamas has condemned the Nablus operation as provocative, coming during the current cease-fire arrangement between both parties.

The raid came a day after Israeli troops swooped down on other alleged Hamas targets in Nablus.

They shut down a girls' school, a medical center and two other facilities of a Hamas-affiliated charity.

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