A foreign worker was killed Monday near the northern West Bank town of Jenin, after Palestinians opened fire on a truck carrying a number of workers.
The man was hit in the head and died a short time later after efforts to resuscitate him failed. A group, affiliated to Fatah, claimed responsibility for this attack, which came a day after the Palestinian factions declared a three month cease-fire.
"We do not agree with the cease-fire," a statement from Jenin said. "This is our first action. This is the beginning."
Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian officials finalized details Monday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, which is to start on Wednesday.
Palestinian Authority police forces Monday took over security responsibility for the Gaza Strip's main highway artery. In Jerusalem, Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan led a delegation in talks Monday with senior Israeli officials over a planned handover of security authority in Bethlehem.
The cease-fire began with suspicion rife on both sides. Until the latest shooting attack, relative calm prevailed in most parts of the occupied territories.
On his part, Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Monday: "The cease-fire agreement was not concluded with Israel. It was attained between the Palestinian Authority and the extremist terrorist elements. Since we are not a party to it, its terms do not matter to us."
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
