Israel said its forces foiled an infiltration attempt near the Kissufim junction on the Gaza Strip border fence Sunday night. Israeli soldiers, who identified two Palestinians who crossed the fence, opened fire. In the ensuing gun battle, an Israeli soldier was lightly injured, Israeli sources said.
Earlier, Israel radio reported that Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians at the Gush Katif junction in Gaza Strip. The two were traveling in a van with ten other Palestinians. The two were planning to carry out an attack in the vicinity, the Israeli army said.
In Bethlehem, the Israeli army withdrew two tanks from Manger Square on Sunday, and a wanted Hamas member surrended to soldiers after being holed up in the Church of the Nativity since the Israeli entered Bethlehem some six weeks ago.
These developments came after a day of intense, high-level talks to try to break the month-long standoff. The negotiators hoped to resolve the standoff between Palestinian fighter and Israeli forces at the church before the American President George Bush and Israeli Premier, Ariel Sharon meeting Tuesday, according to an Israeli official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
It appeared that the sides were trying to reach a deal similar to one last week that ended a standoff at Yasser Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. However, Israelis had identified more people in the church as “wanted” activists than the Palestinians were willing to agree to, the Israeli official said.
A Palestinian official said the talks were deadlocked over Israel's insistence the activists stand trial. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
