One Israeli settler was killed and another sustained moderate injuries in a shooting attack early Thursday near the West Bank settlement of Alei Zahav.
Palestinians fired, apparently from an ambush, at a car driving at around 4:00 A.M. (0100 GMT). One of the men in the car was critically injured and later died of his wounds, and another man was moderately injured and taken to Hospital.
Israeli troops were conducting a search in the area, and the attackers are believed to have fled to the nearby Palestinian village of Burkin, Israel Radio reported.
Fatah military wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack saying it was in revenge for Israel's airstrike on the Gaza Strip.
In Gaza Strip, Palestinians fired two homemade Qassam rockets late Wednesday night, one at a northern Gaza Strip settlement and another at the town of Sderot in southern Israel. A child at the Gaza settlement suffered from shock and a building was damaged.
These attacks come as Israeli security forces in the Palestinian territories, along the border with the West Bank and inside Israel are on full alert following threats by Hamas to avenge the killing of its top military leader Salah Shehadeh in an Israeli air attack on his home early Tuesday.
Israeli police have reportedly stepped up patrols along the seam line, while security measures at the entrances to cities and towns throughout the country have been intensified.
Security sources said that Hamas threats to avenge are being treated seriously and that all appropriate measures were being taken to try and thwart suicide bombings and other attacks.
Nevertheless, senior police sources stressed that there was no way of hermetically sealing the border and guaranteeing that no bombers would be able to get through.
Meanwhile, the American embassy in Tel Aviv told U.S. citizens in Israel it was taking seriously threats by Hamas. "We and the Israeli authorities believe these to be credible threats. We advise all U.S. citizens to review the mission's security guidelines... In this period of heightened tension, it will be particularly important to reduce exposure to risk," the embassy advised citizens in a message. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
