Israeli troops and Palestinian resistance fighters exchanged gunfire Thursday morning in the West Bank city of Hebron, Haaretz reported, citing Israeli radio.
According to the radio, six Palestinians were wounded in the gun battle, while the Israelis sustained no injuries.
The exchange comes less than a day after Palestinian gunfire wounded two Israeli women during a Jewish holiday celebration in Hebron Wednesday. The Return Brigades, associated with the Fatah Movement, claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a separate incident, two Israelis were wounded late Wednesday night by shots fired at their car near occupied Jerusalem, Haaretz said.
About two weeks ago, Meir Weishos was killed on the same road by shots fired at him from a passing vehicle.
According to AFP estimates, over 630 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since the latest uprising erupted. In the 12-month period, Palestinians have killed over 170 Israelis.
ISRAELI PEACE GROUP CRITICIZES NEW SETTLEMENTS
Meanwhile, the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now slammed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for allowing ten new Jewish settlements to be built between June and September this year, AFP reported.
The group said that Sharon had broken his word on freezing settlement communities, according to the news agency.
It added that a Peace Now report showed the construction of 10 new active settlements, based on a comparison of aerial photographs of occupied Palestinian territory taken at the end of May and September. A May survey had revealed 15 new sites built since February.
Peace Now accused Sharon's government of "violating the commitments made in the guidelines of its own coalition, according to which 'no new settlements will be built.'"
It added that "under the authority of Defense Minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer, the settlers are conducting a takeover of new lands, unprecedented in its pace and scope."
The group said that contrary to his commitments to dismantle the 15 sites established before May, he had in fact removed only one.
Palestinian resistance fighters of the hard-line group Hamas attacked a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip late Tuesday, killing two Israelis before being gunned down themselves.
The Israeli army retaliation, with tanks and helicopters pounding Gaza City, left six Palestinians dead.
Israeli settlements are a major reason the Palestinians launched an uprising a year ago to force an end to 34 years of military occupation of Palestinian land – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
