Israel arrests 18 terror suspects in Ramallah

Israel arrests 18 terror suspects in Ramallah

Among those taken was Khalil Shilo, a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Shilo had been on the run for seven years, since the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000.

The operation came a week after an IDF arrest sweep through the West Bank city of Nablus. Troops also found weapons and pipe bombs, military officials said.

The army confirmed the arrest of 18 fugitives, and said they were all allied with Fatah. The fugitives were suspected of involvement in shooting attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as attempted kidnappings, the army said.

Most of the Palestinian security forces are linked to Fatah, and fugitives were known to sleep in the military intelligence compound from time to time.