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Palestinian militant kills 2
Israelis
Nitzanei Shalom—A Palestinian militant shot and killed two Israeli
security guards early Friday at a factory along the divide between
Israel and the West Bank, the military said. The attack highlights
the enormous challenge faced by moderate Palestinians to keep
extremists in check.
Meanwhile, Israel rejected a proposal from Hamas, the militant
rulers of the Gaza Strip, for a cease-fire in the territory.
Medics pronounced the two middle-aged guards dead at the scene,
rescue services said, and troops began combing surrounding areas for
traces of the assailant. One body remained on the ground outside the
factory, covered in a gray blanket, and police concealed the second
body with a white sheet.
No Palestinian militant group immediately claimed responsibility.
Riad al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, condemned the
attack, saying it was meant “to undermine the efforts by the
Palestinian government to undertake full security responsibilities
in the West Bank.” The attack was also meant to embarrass
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas while he is in Washington for
meetings with U.S. officials, al-Malki said.
Any Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will have to include an Israeli
withdrawal from the West Bank to make room for a Palestinian state.
For that to happen, Israel says the Palestinians must keep their
gunmen in check. Israel has argued that attacks like Friday’s prove
Palestinian authorities are not yet capable of controlling
militants.
“This was a clear example of extremism and terrorism by those
seeking to foil any prospects for advancing peace between Israel and
the Palestinians,” Israeli government spokesman David Baker said.
Israel’s military regularly carries out arrest raids targeting
militants in the West Bank, and Israel has refused Palestinian calls
to cease such operations and allow Palestinian security forces to
take control. The military said the gunman approached the two guards
while they were screening workers entering the small industrial zone
of Nitzanei Shalom, opened fire and then escaped, the military said.
The industrial zone is located on the line between Israel and the
West Bank. It contains five Israeli factories that employ
Palestinians.
Palestinian security officials in the nearby town of Tulkarem said
soldiers moved into the West Bank in force after the attack and set
up a checkpoint. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they
were not authorized to speak to the press. The West Bank is
controlled by Abbas’ moderate government, which is negotiating a
peace deal with Israel. There have been few shooting attacks in the
area in recent years.—AP
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