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IDF soldiers deploying during clashes with Palestinians in the West bank town of Bethlehem on Monday, March 3. (AP)
Last update - 00:32 13/03/2008
IDF kills 5 Palestinian militants in two West Bank incidents
By Yuval Azoulay and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: West Bank, Israel 

Israel Defense Forces troops killed five Palestinian militants in the West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian medical and security officials said, hours after the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers demanded a halt to all Israeli "aggression" as a condition for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. For more, visit Haaretz.com TV.

Hours later, Palestinians in Gaza fired four Qassam rockets towards Sderot, three of which landed in open fields. The rockets caused damage, however there were no injuries reported.

Meanwhile, video footage showed medical officials loading the bodies of the dead Palestinian militants into an ambulance. The IDF issued a statement saying that the four were "senior wanted terrorists from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization."
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Palestinian security officials said one of the dead was the commander of Islamic Jihad in the Bethlehem area, Mohammed Shehadeh, and two others were also members of Islamic Jihad. A fourth man belonged to the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

Mohammed Shehadeh Abed Ta'amari, 45, was the head of the Islamic Jihad in
Bethlehem and was involved in several terrorist attacks in which many
Israelis were wounded and killed, including a 2000 car bombing in Jerusalem that killed two civilians.

The three other wanted terrorists, Ahmed Halil Salem Balbul, 48, Imad Hasin Mahmud Camel, 35, and Isa Marzuk Saleh Zuhara, 36, were a part of the Islamic Jihad leadership in Bethlehem and were also involved in extensive terrorist activity, the IDF said.

Shehadeh and the Islamic Jihad in Bethlehem were in direct contact
with the Islamic Jihad leadership in Syria from which they received
operational orders, the IDF said.

The shooting came shortly after the leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip called for a cease-fire with Israel. Among his conditions was a halt to Israeli military operations in the West Bank. In the past, Gaza militants have claimed the right to retaliate against Israel for its operations in the West Bank.

Islamic Jihad leader Nafez Azzam in Gaza denounced the Israeli raid. "This new crime reflects the true face of the occupation," he said. "Killing still continues while they are talking about the possibility of bringing calm, but if they think that calm means Palestinian surrender, they are mistaken."

Earlier Wednesday, the IDF killed an additional member of the Islamic Jihad sparking threats from the group to "retaliate deep inside the Zionist entity."

The militant, who has been on the defense establishment's wanted list, was killed near the West Bank city of Tul Karm in an exchange of fire that erupted during an arrest operation in the area.

Troops surrounded a house in the village of Saida and demanded that its
occupants come out, according to resident Abdel Karim Hammad, whose family lives in the house.

Saleh Karkur, 27, a wanted Islamic Jihad gunman who was staying with the family, refused to come out, a gunfight erupted, and Karkur was shot and killed, Hammad said.

The Israelis then demolished half of the house and arrested Hammad's father for harboring a wanted militant, he said.

Palestinian medics said they took the man's body from the scene.

The IDF confirmed an operation in the village but would not
immediately provide details.

Explosives and weapons were found on the militant's body at the end of the battle, according to Israel Radio. There were no injuries among the soldiers.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Israel's raids in the West Bank showed "it was not interested in calm". Hamas, he said, would hold Israel responsible for the consequences.

Reservists fire at Israeli Arab car thief

Meanwhile, IDF reserves soldiers Wednesday morning opened fire on an Israeli Arab man driving a stolen car in the Yatir Forest south of Hebron.

The reservists said they had ordered the man to stop, at which point he sped up, prompting troops to open fire.

The driver was lightly wounded and taken for medical treatment.

Related articles:
  • IDF kills five Palestinian militnats in two incidents in the West Bank
  • Abbas: Israel has agreed to cease-fire with Hamas
  • ANALYSIS: The lull in rockets is not due to an Israel-Hamas deal
  • Fallen IDF soldier Banai defied deaf parents to join combat unit
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      1.   The Confusing Part to Me Is ... 10:22  |  Bernie 12/03/08
      2.   IDF raids are Israel`s Qassams. 10:30  |  Michael 12/03/08
      3.   What the `truce` means to Israel 11:25  |  Peter 12/03/08
      4.   Jews are really good guys 11:31  |  Dan 12/03/08
      5.   #1--Bernie--you make me shake my head in amazement! 11:33  |  US CITIZEN 12/03/08
      6.   Karkur family -a visitor is on the way 12:21  |  Sarah 12/03/08
      7.   israel is playing with fire! it worked partially for 60 years,but 13:17  |  lakshmi 12/03/08
      8.   US CITIZENS Ignorance is Amazing 13:39  |  Johan Odin 12/03/08
      9.   To Arab Countries 14:14  |  American Christian 12/03/08
      10.   #8 - Johan Odin - response Part 1 14:58  |  PlanoStu 12/03/08
      11.   #8 - Johan Odin - response Part 2 15:12  |  PlanoStu 12/03/08
      12.   #8 - Johan Odin - response Part 3 15:21  |  PlanoStu 12/03/08
      13.   Israel will negotiate willingly only when Missiles start raining 16:03  |  JIM 12/03/08
      14.   Calling people animals 16:30  |  Dave Duncan 12/03/08
      15.   #14, Dave...its called deterence! 16:45  |  DR 12/03/08
      16.   #10-12 RE: Johan and ignorance 16:52  |  DR 12/03/08
      17.   Lakshmi 17:09  |  Tal 12/03/08
      18.   Dave Duncan 17:21  |  Tal 12/03/08
      19.   This is why their can be no truce 17:33  |  Olmert Has No Balls 12/03/08
      20.   18--problem is it has not worked 18:01  |  Dave Duncan 12/03/08
      21.   re #8 18:23  |  Meyer 12/03/08
      22.   Dave Duncan 18:24  |  Jimmie 12/03/08
      23.   PlanoStu BRAVO! 18:25  |  Jimmie 12/03/08
      24.   to johan odin 18:51  |  terner 12/03/08
      25.   Haaretz fails to report murderer was released from Jail TWICE 18:53  |  ZADOK 12/03/08
      26.   re #8 18:58  |  Meyer 12/03/08
      27.   we send our young jewish kids every night to fight for ISRAEL 19:44  |  SHAWN BAKER 12/03/08
      28.   Golani Shali 19:50  |  Oleg 12/03/08
      29.   These Zionists Just Can`t Keep Their Fingers Off 20:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/03/08
      30.   dangerous provocation 20:10  |  rm 12/03/08
      31.   why are we leting them take dead bodies away? make them negotiate 20:13  |  ralph 12/03/08
      32.   bernie 20:24  |  Aby 12/03/08
      33.   to Bernie, there IS a war 20:37  |  judith 12/03/08
      34.   Whatever seems disturbing to Yaakov Sullivan 20:46  |  civilized Kid 12/03/08
      35.   Blowing up the house 20:49  |  Bill 12/03/08
      36.   lakshmi wants fire. Prepare to see who gets burned. 20:54  |  Fortuna Benmayor 12/03/08
      37.   10,11,12Plano stu to Johan Odin,some corrections! First of all 20:59  |  lakshmi 12/03/08
      38.   It`s criminal to support Israel today... 21:03  |  Dutch 12/03/08
      39.   Four Palestinians assassinated in Bethlehem 21:05  |  Dav 12/03/08
      40.   "staying with the family, refused to come out," 21:08  |  Gina 12/03/08
      41.   PLanoStu: excellent post. great points 21:12  |  Richard S 12/03/08
      42.   Bernie -- supporter of Hezbollah 21:15  |  Gina 12/03/08
      43.   I find it funny that the Resopnders to #8.... 21:15  |  kamal 12/03/08
      44.   # 2 Michael. Go back and read the article again, mate. 21:26  |  A Jew 12/03/08
      45.   Child Soldiers of the PA 21:36  |  Jean Van Daem 12/03/08
      46.   I`m confused 21:40  |  Gary 12/03/08
      47.   To Bernie 21:47  |  Jordan 12/03/08
      48.   Shawn Baker 21:48  |  IDF combat soldier 12/03/08
      49.   Johan Odin #8 Truly ignorant 21:52  |  Gee 12/03/08
      50.   to Yaakov S 21:52  |  leo 12/03/08
      51.   German occupation of Norway 21:53  |  Magnus K 12/03/08
      52.   lakshmi #37 Just some facts 21:56  |  Gee 12/03/08
      53.   To #16 - DR 22:00  |  RF 12/03/08
      54.   Johan Odin 22:02  |  TonyL 12/03/08
      55.   Way To Go IDF! 22:19  |  Steve 12/03/08
      56.   #42, Kamal and ignorance! 22:19  |  DR 12/03/08
      57.   Write Israel not israel, Abbas not abbas, if you want your 22:32  |  Romano 12/03/08
      58.   Dont Get Upset Magnus 22:33  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/03/08
      59.   WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE????? 22:35  |  Samy 12/03/08
      60.   To quote haaretz 22:40  |  Adrian de Klerk 12/03/08
      61.   RF 53 - It`s you who are reading backward 22:42  |  ChanahS 12/03/08
      62.   # 59 Answer is Yes 23:03  |  ari 12/03/08
      63.   #8 23:04  |  Jane 12/03/08
      64.   #13 23:06  |  Jane 12/03/08
      65.   #59 23:08  |  Jane 12/03/08
      66.   #52 23:09  |  Jane 12/03/08
      67.   What Abbas Hasn`t Come Out 23:14  |  JT 12/03/08
      68.   22:38 British-led military strike kills 4 civilians, Afghanistan 23:21  |  Outcry? 12/03/08
      69.   Outrage shown by Dutch 23:30  |  Rory 12/03/08
      70.   SAMY - where is your common sense? 23:44  |  Polybios 12/03/08
      71.   Bottom Line 23:45  |  DJ 12/03/08
      72.   ZADOK...wow he was one of the bad guys 23:53  |  Lynn 12/03/08
      73.   Good job, way to go, a bit safer for all healty people 23:55  |  Erdogan 12/03/08
      74.   reply 00:00  |  michael 13/03/08
      75.   im also confused 00:08  |  bob 13/03/08
      76.   dont get confused 00:14  |  nana 13/03/08
      77.   War on terrorism 00:14  |  David 13/03/08
      78.   They were given a warning to surrender 00:17  |  enrique 13/03/08
      79.   including a 2000 car bombing in Jerusalem 00:18  |  vik 13/03/08
      80.   RE: WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE????? 00:22  |  vik 13/03/08
      81.   Qassams on israel 00:27  |  Nabulsi 13/03/08
      82.   Died in fighting woww 00:27  |  Haartez observer 13/03/08
      83.   Killing Palestinians 00:33  |  Kimberly 13/03/08
      84.   #8 Where on earth is OSLOW? 00:35  |  MaryRose 13/03/08
      85.   Bernie`s suggestion 00:38  |  SR 13/03/08
      86.   yaakov sullivan 01:07  |  terner 13/03/08
      87.   Jane 01:25  |  Ibrahim 13/03/08
      88.   To DR.... Get your facts right 01:38  |  Ghassan 13/03/08
      89.   outcry? #66 01:39  |  MrRad 13/03/08
      90.   #1 Perhaps if you started with the fact 01:42  |  MaryRose 13/03/08
      91.   7 Lakshmi, Their days are numbered. 01:47  |  Dutch 13/03/08
      92.   US Citizen # 5 01:53  |  US citizen who cares 13/03/08
      93.   79 Ghassan,52 Gee,Ghassan right on! 01:58  |  lakshmi 13/03/08
      94.   Let`s Cease Israel? I Think Not! 01:59  |  Zev 13/03/08
      95.   Jimmie in Dallas 01:59  |  Walter 13/03/08
      96.   to kimberly 02:01  |  stop the hate 13/03/08
      97.   Kimberly 02:01  |  Kim 13/03/08
      98.   hamas will be long gone 02:24  |  Adrian de Klerk 13/03/08
      99.   #42 GINA 02:27  |  BigBadJohn 13/03/08
      100.   WHY CANT ISRAEL BE LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD? 02:32  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 13/03/08
      101.   59 SAMY,well put! A few days ago on a thread there was a 02:44  |  lakshmi 13/03/08
      102.   To my dear Israeli friends: I am losing faith 03:03  |  A Lebanese 13/03/08
      103.   #83 Don`t be a mouthpiece for mudering cult /the IDF 03:32  |  Dutch 13/03/08
      104.   #29 It`s all an internal power struggle, Yaakov 05:06  |  Johnboy 13/03/08
      105.   #99 dutch - oh really 07:22  |  Adrian de Klerk 13/03/08
      106.   #99 dutch and her international law 07:24  |  Adrian de Klerk 13/03/08
      107.   Adrian there is indeed a law and Israel has ratified it 15:00  |  Dutch 13/03/08
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