HEBRON (voa) – At least nine Palestinians have been killed and another 17 arrested in an Israeli raid on the West Bank city of Hebron.
Israeli troops, backed by attack helicopters and tanks, seized control of more than half of the divided city’s Palestinian-ruled area and remained there at nightfall Monday.
Palestinian witnesses say a missile fired from an Israeli combat helicopter hit a house, killing a gunman and four others. Witnesses say two others were killed by helicopter gunfire while rushing to the scene.
Israel says the military push was triggered by Saturday’s Palestinian attack on a Jewish settlement that killed four Israelis.
Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer says the raid is temporary and aimed at the terrorist infrastructure in the city, and not at the Palestinian Authority. He said troops have conducted house-to house-searches for militants, and have seized explosive materials, weapons and missiles.
U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says Israel should “finish its withdrawal” from Palestinian areas and refrain from further incursions.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says “all elements are in place” for reaching an agreement to end the stand-off at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. But Palestinian negotiators say talks are on hold until Israel allows food into the church.
Some 200 Palestinians, including 30 armed gunmen, have been holed up in the church for 27 days. Monday, an Israeli sniper killed a militant who stepped outside the church.
