Five Palestinians suspected of being "collaborators" with Israel escaped from a crowd of fighters and civilians trapped inside Bethelehem's Church of the Nativity, a Palestinian fighter in the church told AFP by phone.
The Palestinian fighter, who gave his name only as Rami, said the five collaborators jumped over a wall while the Israeli forces opened fire to give them cover, after allegedly coordinating their escape by telephone with the Israeli army.
One man suspected of having collaborated with the Israelis was still being held inside the church, he said.
In Gaza Strip, seven Palestinian children, including a three-year-old, were wounded when Israeli troops fired on them as they were throwing stones, witnesses and medics said.
The children were lobbing stones at Israeli tanks and bulldozers trying to clear an area between the southern town of Rafah and the neighboring refugee camp close to the border with Egypt.
The soldiers opened fire with live bullets, witnesses said, hitting three-year-old Ahmad Zaanoun in the head. His condition was critical, medics said. All the children were less than 15 years old, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared Sunday that Israel has completed the latest stage of its "war on terrorism" and will turn to new tactics as it presses the campaign.
Sharon called the operation a success. "I believe we have achieved very notable accomplishments," Sharon said. "However, the war against terrorism continues and will continue. But now it will employ a different method."
Sharon gave no details, but he has spoken previously about creating a buffer zone that would make it more difficult for Palestinians in the West Bank to reach Israeli cities and towns. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
