Israeli troops arrested a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Monday morning.

Security sources said the Israeli army pushed into the holy city, stormed the house of Mahmoud Fanouna, also a member of the Palestinian National Council, and boxed him into a military vehicle.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops arrested 15 Palestinians in a predawn swoop Monday, a military spokesman said.

Despite the Palestinian hope that an Israeli-Palestinian cease- fire could be extended to the West Bank, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz confirmed on Sunday that Israel would continue its military operations in West Bank.

The newborn mutual cease-fire seems short-lived, as Palestinian sources accused Israel of violating the truce by opening fire at Gaza residents.

On Sunday night, the military wings of Fatah and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claimed responsibility for launching two home-made rockets into Israel, saying the attack was in response to Israel's violation of the cease-fire.

Following months of Israeli military operations, Israel and the Palestinians agreed on a cease-fire on Nov. 26 under which Israel withdrew forces from Gaza in exchange for stopping home-made rocket attacks against Israel.

Source: Xinhua