HEBRON, March 2, 2006 (WAFA)-Israeli Occupation Forces(IOF)arrested Thursday five citizens and handcuffed a child in the West Bank(WB) Cities of Hebron and Nablus.

Security sources told WAFA that massive number of Israeli soldiers thrust at pre-dawn into Bani Naeim town, north of Hebron, conducted a wide-scale search campaign into citizens' houses, ravaged contents and arrested three citizens, Eisa Tarayra 40, and the two brothers, Nouh 27, and Abed Al-Qader Manassra 41, leading them into an unknown location.

In Tubas, Israeli soldiers handcuffed and detained a 15-year-old child on Tayaseer checkpoint, north the city, witnesses said.

In the meantime, IOF detained number of vehicles near Al-faria area, south of Tubas, and installed a military mobile checkpoint near Al-Malaqy bridge at the road led to Al-Aghwar Al-Wousta, witnesses added.

In Nablus, IOF stormed the city, launched a search campaign into number of houses in Al-Maajeen neighbourhood and arrested a lecturer at an-Najah university and another citizen , leading them into an undisclosed place, security sources said. The IOF also barred scores of employees, workers and patients to head to their destination.

Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli soldiers installed a military checkpoint near as-Serafi swimming pool, east Nablus city and held patients up for long hours.

M.H.(15:46 P) (13:46 GMT)