Barak calls off military operation in Nablus

A military operation planned in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus was called off by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Ynet has learned.

The operation is believed to have been cancelled in light of the Palestinian Authority's security forces taking control of the West Bank city, the upcoming US-sponsored peace conference and Israel's desire to prevent disagreements which may lead to grave results on the backdrop of Barak's frequent meetings with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visits to the region.

Sources in the IDF told Ynet that the activity in the Nablus area has not been halted. Several terror activists were arrested in the city on Monday evening, and information on "ticking bombs" is being dealt with immediately.

The planned operation was to include a large amount of forces, including reserve forces, and was aimed at locating terror activists and weapons.

The operation's details were approved by all commanding ranks, including IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, but the defense minister decided to postpone the raid.

"Our job is to plan activities and operations, train the forces and prepare them to do the best they can. Eventually, the political echelon approves the operations, after examining the larger picture, and we fill its orders," military sources said.

On January 2007, the IDF carried out a detention operation in Ramallah, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The raid led to the killing of a number of civilians, causing embarrassment to the prime minister.

Sources in Barak's office said in response, "The defense minister, as part of his responsibility, approves plans and operation activities as needed. The Defense Minister's Office does not provide the media with details on operational issues."