Among those detained was journalist Mohammed Daraghmeh, who has covered the northern West Bank for The Associated Press since 1996.
The AP protested Daraghmeh's detention. In response, Dan Seaman, director of Israel's Government Press Office, said that "there's no immunity for journalists. He [Daraghmeh] is a Palestinian, and he was arrested like thousands of other Palestinians. He'll be questioned, and if there's no problem he'll be released."
Sharon said in interviews on Monday that Israel would pull out of the West Bank towns of Jenin and Nablus within a week. "Altogether, we are on our way out," he said, but added that Israeli forces would remain in Ramallah and Bethlehem until suspected militants there surrender.
Later, in a phone conversation with US President George W. Bush, Sharon repeated his commitment to pull back from Jenin and Nablus within a week, the White House said.
Yesterday, Sharon renewed his offer for resolving the two-week standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. He wants the 200 armed Palestinians holed up in one of Christianity's holiest shrines to surrender. He said they could then choose between trial and deportation.
Palestinians have rejected the proposal.
Yesterday's incursions came hours after Israeli troops captured Palestinian legislator, Marwan Barghouti, who is accused by Israel of financing and directing a militia responsible for attacks on Israelis in response to their occupation of Palestinian land.
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