Israeli forces stage raid in Ramallah, triggering gun battle

Описание: (4 Jan 2007)
1. Wide zoom of rocks being thrown at Israeli troops
2. Medium of man throwing rocks at Israeli troops
3. Medium of Israeli army vehicle, AUDIO: gunfire and car alarm
4. Israeli troops driving past and Palestinians throwing rocks at them
5. Wide of Palestinians throwing rocks
6. Explosion near to Israeli vehicle then cloud of thick white smoke spreading
7. Zoom into man getting into back of army vehicle
8. Helicopter
9. Israeli bulldozers pushing over market stalls
10. Young girl leading mother into safety of shop as others run into same shop
11. Israeli bulldozers pushing over market stalls
12. Various of Palestinians throwing rocks
13. Explosion in distance as people run away
STORYLINE:
Israeli forces entered Ramallah on an arrest raid on Thursday, sending Palestinians fleeing and setting off a major battle with Palestinian gunmen in the centre of the normally placid West Bank city.
Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen exchanged heavy fire after undercover forces tried to arrest fugitives in the city's vegetable market.
Two Palestinians were killed and 25 were wounded, including the photographer for a local news agency, security officials and hospital doctors said.
The Israeli military said it arrested four wanted men.
Bursts of gunfire, loud booms and the wail of sirens could be heard across the city for more than two hours, as the
fighting sent residents and shoppers scrambling for cover.
During the operation, more than a dozen jeeps drove through streets, as an army bulldozer pushed aside vegetable stands and cars.
The army said it was conducting a routine arrest raid in Ramallah.
A Palestinian security official said Israeli forces had entered Ramallah's open-air vegetable market to arrest a top militant from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a group affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.
When the Israeli troops became trapped, the army sent in more forces to extricate them, the Palestinian official said.
Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a shaky ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in late November, but occasional fighting has continued in the West Bank.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for expanding the ceasefire to the West Bank, and Israeli officials said they were hoping for a broader truce, but Gaza militants first had to stop firing rockets into Israel.

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