Nablus is a city of about 300,000 located about 45 kilometers (30 miles) north of Jerusalem. Its residents are Palestinians. It is the location of several holy sites of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In the latest Palestinian intifada (2000- ) the Palestinians destroyed the local Jewish holy sites and sent out dozens of suicide and "regular" terrorists out of Nablus into Israel. The deaths of many Israeli civilians resulted.
Israel responded in March 2002 by invading the city and arresting many of its residents who were involved in terror. Israeli incursions back into nablus and Palestinian terror attacks continue as of May 2003.