A Palestinian activists early Tuesday killed two Israeli troops standing at a checkpoint on a road, which links Jerusalem and settlements in Bethlehem area.
Israeli forces were pursuing the Palestinian attacker, who fired from a driving vehicle, and was believed to have fled toward the city of Bethlehem.
According to Israeli media reports, the shooter fled the scene on foot, but was picked up by a car, which took him to the nearby village of El Khader. Soldiers imposed a brief curfew on El Khader and launched house-to-house searches for the assailant, the army and witnesses said. Additionally, witnesses said at least three Palestinians were arrested.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) claimed responsibility for the attack, AFP reported.
Its fighters carried out the attack "to confirm the continuation of the armed struggle, respond to the daily Zionist crimes against our people, and underline our rejection of any decision which would harm the resistance," said the group.
Later on Tuesday, Palestinians fired an anti-tank missile at a settler convoy travelling in the Gaza Strip, Israel Radio reported. There were no injuries or damage in this incident.
Elsewhere, nine Palestinians were injured early Tuesday as Israeli forces backed by helicopters staged an incursion into the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Palestinian security and medical sources said. According to sources, Israeli forces demolished several houses in the city and in the refugee camp.
Around 20 armoured vehicles including tanks raided the town close to the border with Egypt at around 3:00 am (local time) with Apache helicopters flying overhead, sources added.
Sources at Rafah hospital said that eight people were being treated for their injuries, at least one of whom was in a serious condition.
An Israeli military source confirmed that an operation was taking place in the area, saying it was targeted at dismantling tunnels which Israel claims are being used to smuggle in weapons under the border with Egypt.
Three Palestinian activists, including a key leader of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) were arrested by the Israeli occupying forces in Tulkarem, Palestinian security sources said. They named one of the arrested as Nayef Jarad, a senior political figure in PFLP.
Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday he planned to meet with his Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qurei "in the coming days" - the first confirmation from Sharon that new talks were planned.
"In the coming days, the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian prime minister will meet and start talks," Sharon told members of Italy's Jewish community during a state visit that began Monday.
Sharon said he hoped that further political contacts and peace talks would resume.
On his part, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said late Monday that no date has yet been set for a Sharon-Qurei meeting, and added that both sides would have to come "very well prepared" to such a meeting when it takes place.
Palestinian Cabinet Secretary General Hassan Abu Libdeh told Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam Tuesday that a date for a meeting between Sharon and Qurei has not been set yet and “any such meeting should lead to concrete results” and should not be “a public relations” ploy.
“The meeting of the (Palestinian) prime minister with the Israeli premier must take place after meeting several requirements, at least to make a difference” in the siege, closures, assassinations, detentions and house demolitions, which the Israeli occupation forces are imposing and committing against Palestinian people. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
