Palestinian representatives expressed their anger at Israel for Tuesday’s raids on West Bank cities. They condemned the Israeli government for detaining mass numbers of Palestinians from Hebron and Nablus, accusing them of trying to sabotage efforts to reach a truce with Palestinian factions in order to move forward with the ‘roadmap’ to peace.

The ransack on Nablus and Hebron and the recent series of extra-judicial killings of Palestinian activists enhanced the tension surrounding the implementation of the faltering, internationally-adopted peace plan for ending nearly three years of bloodshed and for establishing a Palestinian state by 2005.

Palestinian Minister of Cabinet Affairs Yasser Abed Rabbo called the raids on Hebron and Nablus, the largest cities in the West Bank, a “crazy act” designed to sabotage negotiations with Hamas. He added that the raids reinforced Israel’s position of not wanting a cease-fire.

However, Hamas continued its talks of a truce in Egypt today, but leaders questioned how it could possibly move forward with a deal if Israel continues to assault members of its group.

Other Palestinian officials condemned the arrests, saying that Israel is trying to destabilize the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the peace process.

“While the Palestinian Authority is pushing for prisoners to be released as a sign of good will, Israel is doing the opposite and taking more political prisoners,” PNA legal advisor Michael Tarazi said. “Israel is undermining the Palestinian Authority because, if there is a deal with Hamas and the group ends its violence against Israelis, it will mean Israel will have to meet its obligations under the roadmap. It doesn’t want to do that.”

Israeli forces claimed that yesterday’s siege of about 160 Palestinians was aimed at what they call “terrorists and their helpers” who are behind retaliatory attacks on Israel. However, Palestinian sources in Hebron said that Israeli troops arrested elderly men, women and young teenagers. Soldiers blindfolded and handcuffed the detainees and held them in tents until taking them into a building for interrogation.

Experts on the situation say Israel’s strategic move will give it more leverage in its negotiations with the Palestinians over the transfer of security control in Gaza and Bethlehem.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration is assembling a monitoring team to oversee and judge each side’s compliance with the ‘roadmap.’