Israel seizes top Palestinian militant in W Bank

JENIN, West Bank, Dec 25 (Reuters) Israel seized a top commander from a Palestinian militant group in the occupied West Bank today, a local security source said.

Israeli forces raided the West Bank town of Qabatiya, near the city of Jenin, and detained nine Palestinians, including Yasser Nazzal, head of the Popular Resistance Committees in the West Bank, the security source and witnesses said.

They also seized two Islamic Jihad militants, they added.

The Israeli army confirmed they had arrested several suspected Palestinian militants, including Nazzal.

''The leader (Nazzal) will be replaced by a thousand leaders and resistance will continue,'' PRC spokesman in Gaza, Abu Mujahed, said. ''We tell the Zionist enemy that your message has been received and now you should await the response.'' Both groups have often fired rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, but the PRC has been largely inactive in the West Bank.

Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired more than 50 rockets since they declared a ceasefire last month.

REUTERS SP PM2224