Israeli forces stepped up detentions against the Palestinians in the West Bank, arresting 40 people over the past couple of days, Israeli sources said on Thursday.

Israeli sources said that 16 Palestinians were arrested this dawn in the West Bank and taken for interrogation by the Israeli intelligence.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army also arrested 24 Palestinians, claiming they were wanted.

The arrests in the West Bank take place on daily basis despite the security agreements between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)