A COUNCILLOR today spoke of her fears for her family when her home town was recaptured by Israeli troops.

Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Karimeh Foster, who represents the Whitehall Ward and lives in Derby Close, Darwen, was born in Beit Jala in the West Bank and left there in 1967. Her parents live in Jordan, but aunts and cousins still live in Beit Jala.

Six years after being handed over to Palestine, parts of the town were seized by Israeli soldiers in a bloody battle this week.

Jordanian newspaper reports said residents feared to go outdoors as soldiers announced on loudspeakers the area was under curfew. A church her family used was taken over in the siege.

As the news filtered through to her, the Liberal Democrat feared for the safety of her family.

She said: "My parents rang me up about the situation. I was really astonished about what happened. I felt sick when I heard and I feared for my family.

"I can't explain how I'm feeling, apart from being helpless."

The occupation of the church caused the most concern to Mrs Foster and led to condemnation from church bosses. She has written to Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to intervene.

The Liberal Democrat said: "I feel like nobody is helping my people. I want somebody to intervene."

Israel withdrew from Beit Jala -- and most other Palestinian communities in the West Bank -- in 1995, ending 28 years of military rule. A Palestinian security officer was killed and seven people wounded in the struggle.

Reports said the Israeli invasion was to stop Palestinians firing on the Jewish settlement of Gilo, on the southern edge of Jerusalem.

For months, Gilo has been the target of Palestinian attacks.