General Information
Ramallah is located on a major crossroads in the West Bank, with a commanding view of its surroundings, ensuring a continuity of population from the city of Jerusalem northwards.

The Ramallah area is composed of two main sectors: the lower city of Ramallah and the city of el-Bira (a separate municipality) to the east. South of the city is the el-'Amari refugee camp and to its north is the town of Bir Zeit (known for its university, the largest on the West Bank), and the Jalazoun refugee camp.

Ramallah is one of the two major Palestinian seats of power. The central Palestinian governing institutions are located within Ramallah, including: offices of the Legislative Council, the executive branch and a large number of Palestinian West Bank security forces' headquarters.

Arafat, until recently, had divided his time between Gaza and Ramallah, due to the presence of central governing institutions presence in both cities.

Ramallah is a relatively modern city with Jerusalem-style high-rise buildings. In the past, Ramallah constituted a tourism and entertainment center. The Ramallah district contains 220,000 residents. Of these some 57,000 are located in the cities of Ramallah and el-Bira.

Ramallah Axis of Terrorism

Since the beginning of the current conflict, Ramallah has stood out as a major center of terrorist activity against Israeli civilians and security personnel. The terrorist infrastructure in the city, and at times in the entire West Bank, are dependant on senior Fatah leadership and senior commanders of the Palestinian security apparatus.

Since the death of Raed Karmi on January 14, 2002, the city has become the capital of Palestinian terrorism, from which many terrorist attacks have emanated. Among those we may count the suicide attack in Tel Aviv's Sea Food Market restaurant, the terrorist infiltration of 'Ayn 'Arik, and the attack on civilians and IDF soldiers at the British Police roadblock.

Palestinian Security Forces

Due to the fact that Ramallah constituted an administrative and governmental center, the Palestinian Authority security forces established their headquarters in the city. The National Security headqarters is located in Ramallah's Mukt'ah as are the headquarters of Force-17, Preventive Security and Civil Police.

The Palestinian security forces, and especially Force-17, have played an active role in major terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops perpetrated within in the Ramallah area, in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel. The mutual relationship existing between the Fatah in Ramallah and members of the security forces (often on a personal basis, due to the fact many security force personnel were originally from the Fatah) has blurred the distinction between the Palestinian security forces and the Fatah. The former participate actively in terror operations, either as individuals or on an organizational level (e.g. Force-17).

Terrorist Organizations

The major terrorist organization operating out of Ramallah is the Fatah, headed by Arafat. Marwan Barghouti, Secretary General of the Fatah, who is also head of the Tanzim, serves directly under him. Many senior Fatah leaders have established themselves in Ramallah. Fatah is responsible for a long list of deadly terrorist attacks (suicide operations, shooting attacks, kidnappings and bombings) which took the lives of many dozens of Israelis. Following the death of local Tanzim leader Raed Karmi on January 14, 2002, the Fatah changed its modus operandi from shooting attacks on roads to suicide bombings in Israeli cities, and terrorist attacks against IDF checkpoints.

Other terrorist organizations operate from the city, among them the Hamas which had carried out the major suicide bombings in Jerusalem (e.g. the Sbarro pizzeria bombing, the Jerusalem pedestrian mall double-suicide bombing and the recent Cafe Moment attack which claimed the lives of 11 Israelis). Their operatives enjoy protection of the security forces who do not stop the activities in the city. Even though Ramallah is not the primary site of Hamas activity on the West Bank, Ramallah does constitute a "relay station" for suicide attacks in Jerusalem.

An additional terrorist organization that operates in and from the city is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. This organization, even though it is relatively small, has chosen Ramallah as the main focal point for its military and political operations. The leadership of the terrorist organization within the territories are situated in Ramallah. It has carried out a large number of spectacular attacks which have claimed the lives of many victims. Among these: the bombings in the Ariel hotel and the Karnei Shalom mall, and the assassination of the late Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze'evy, whose murderers departed from and returned to Ramallah. The organization now specializes in suicide bombings.

The remaining Palestinian terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic Jihad, maintain "representatives" in Ramallah. They cooperate together and with the official security forces of the Palestinian Authority.

Editor: The building in Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah where Israel confined him in April 2002, actually was a British fort from the Mandate period. Consequently, the reference to "fort" in Isaiah 17:2 is absolutely literal, as is the fulfilment:

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IDF Activity in the City of Nablus (Shechem)
IDF Spokesperson 8 February 2002

IDF forces comprising the Infantry, the Armor and the Engineering units have been operating since last night on the outskirts of the city of Nablus, at the areas, which are under Palestinian security control.

During the activity, controlling positions were ceased by the IDF and the encirclement of the area has been tightened.

The city of Nablus has become a main terror center and serves as a sanctuary city for terrorists whose main aim is to harm the IDF soldiers and the citizens of Israel. Amongst the terror attacks that have come out of that area, was the murderous shooting terror attack which occurred three days ago at the residence of Hamra.  The "Kassam" rockets, which were found in the truck captured three days ago, were made in Nablus. It is also the same place where the rockets are transported from to the other cites in the West Bank.

The IDF Spokesperson wishes to point out that it is in the IDF's intention to make it as easy as possible for the Palestinian population. This activity is happening due to the fact that the Palestinian Authority isn't denying the terrorists or other means of warfare the permission to exit Nablus and it is not thwarting terror activities that exit this city.

imra-digest  Saturday, February 9 2002  Volume 01 : Number 528
(IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis. Website: http://www.imra.org.il
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