TEL AVIV, September 1, 2009 (WAFA)- The Israeli  army has canceled a number of planned arrest operations in the West Bank fearing soldiers will be seen by American diplomats touring the Palestinian Territory, the daily Haaretz reported.

Army officers serving with their units in the West Bank said they were instructed by brigade commanders in recent weeks to call off the planned arrests of wanted men inside Palestinian towns, because of these diplomats' presence.

The diplomats, mostly employees of the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, have been traveling regularly to the West Bank to gather testimony on settlement construction, to oversee American-funded projects and to meet with Palestinian Authority officials.

'We were told that the situation with the Americans is sensitive, and that it is not desirable that operations are conducted that could lead to violent situations when they [the Americans] are there,' one of the officers said.