Palestinian killed, Israeli wounded in drive-by shooting in village near Hebron

A 40-year-old Palestinian man was killed and an Israeli civilian sustained moderate-to-serious injuries in a drive-by shooting yesterday in the village of Idna, west of Hebron. Defense authorities are checking whether this was an attempted terror attack against Jews, or a local clan conflict.

Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Palestinian news agency Maan, and said it was an act of revenge for events in Gaza.

The Israeli came to the village to sell his car to a local, Mohammad Nofal. As they were standing on the side of the road, they came under fire from a passing Palestinian car. The Israeli, who was hit in the stomach, drove his car to the Tarqumiyeh checkpoint and reported the attack to the soldiers on duty. He was taken by helicopter to Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem.

Seven Qassam rockets were fired yesterday from the Gaza Strip and landed in open areas around Sderot and Zikim, south of Ashkelon. They caused no casualties or damage.

Earlier yesterday an Israel Air Force craft attacked a rocket launch squad in the northern Strip. The army said the attack was successful.

In Ashkelon, tension remained high in anticipation of additional Katyusha barrages. An alarm went off mistakenly at 2 P.M. in one neighborhood, sowing wide-spread panic and flooding police and municipal hotlines with calls.

Politicians continued to visit the city yesterday. Health Minister Jacob Ben-Yizri toured the sites where katyushas hit, and met with Magen David Adom officials in Ashkelon.

In Sderot meanwhile, the Defense Ministry finished erecting 120 fortified concrete bus shelters throughout the town yesterday, which can serve as erstwhile shelters against rocket fire. Some of the shelters can accommodate people who use wheelchairs.