January 22, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1423

RAMALLAH, Jan 21: The Israeli army arrested the wife of wanted Hamas militant Falah Nada on Tuesday near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Alia Al-Abed was arrested in addition to Hamas member Majed Abu Khadija, the sources said.

The officials also said an Israeli army undercover unit arrested eight policemen in the Ramallah area, but did not give any more details.

According to the Palestinian rights’ group Addameer, 54 Palestinian women are currently being detained by Israel.

HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS ISRAELIS: Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerillas attacked Israeli troops in a disputed border area on Tuesday, sparking an air raid and artillery fire that wounded two civilians, police and hospital sources said.

Israel termed the attack, the first in the Shebaa Farms area in five months, a “serious development” ahead of the Israeli general election next week and a possible US-led invasion of Iraq.

Dib Yassin, 82, was wounded in the legs by shrapnel and Samir Abu Qayss, a 20-year-old woman, suffered chest injuries.

Hospital sources in the town of Marjayoun, to where the wounded were evacuated from Hibbariye, said that the old man had to have both legs amputated.

About 15 mortar bombs and 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired at two neighbouring Israeli positions at Roweissit al-Aalam and Tallet Sammaqa, opposite the southern village of Kfarshuba, Lebanese police said.

Israeli fighter-bombers later fired four missiles in two overflights of an area to the west of Kfarshuba, they said.

Also in retaliation, Israeli forces fired at least seven 155 mm artillery rounds and opened up with heavy machineguns on positions around Kfarshuba, the police added.

Hezbollah’s armed wing, the Islamic Resistance, said Roweissit al-Aalam was attacked after a group of Israeli soldiers left their outpost. “The target took a direct hit,” it said in a statement.

It was the first Hezbollah attack in the south Lebanon border area since Aug 29, when three Israeli soldiers were wounded.

The Israeli army reported no injuries in Tuesday’s attack by the militia.

“This bombardment is a serious development. It is a clear attempt to provoke an escalation in the region ahead of the Israeli general elections or of a possible war with Iraq,” said a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

“Responsibility for maintaining calm in the sector and for these serious developments falls on those who support Hezbollah,” Raanan Gissin said.

The barrage came just two days after the prime minister himself warned Palestinian militants, Syria and Hezbollah not to act against Israel in case of a war on Iraq.—AFP