Israeli forces today continued to besiege the occupied West Bank city of Jericho for the sixth consecutive day, according to local and security sources.
They said that the Israeli army set up checkpoints and cement barriers at the main and secondary entrances to the city, stopping vehicles and thoroughly checking every vehicle leaving the city as well as passengers’ ID cards.
This came as the army barged its way into the city and all the long way to the entrance of Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, southwest of the city, and showered young men at the entrance with volleys of tear gas canisters, without casualties.
Residents and travelers to Jordan, who have to go through Jericho to reach the Allenby/King Hussein/Karama bridge crossing, complain of long delays and thorough searches at the army checkpoints placed at all entrances to the tourist city.
The army imposed the siege last week following an attempted shooting at an Israeli restaurant outside the city after the army assumed that the alleged attacker has escaped to Jericho.
Palestinians have complained that after the attack, Israel has imposed collective punishment on the entire city, gravely harming it economically particularly during the high season considering that Jericho is a popular destination for internal and foreign tourism at this time due to its warm temperature during the winter season and the beauty of its terrain.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency