Violence mars Middle East peace efforts
Israeli troops have reportedly shot dead a Palestinian militant hours after Israeli forces withdrew from the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
The Israeli army claims that the man tried to evade capture and was armed. He was shot in the West Bank city of Qalqilya and allegedly belonged to the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have not joined a ceasefire on attacks against Israeli targets agreed by most Palestinian militant groups. The brigades shot dead a Bulgarian worker in the West Bank on Monday.
There were also clashes in the Gaza Strip, as Palestinian militants fired anti-tank rockets at a Jewish settlement late on Wednesday, injuring at least three people.
Efforts have been made in recent weeks to begin implementation of the US-led roadmap to peace in the Middle East, which outlines steps towards the creation of an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
Israeli troops have pulled out of Bethlehem for the first time since last November. Residents cheered as Palestinian security forces drove into the town to replace them. However, some people are still angry that checkpoints around the town have not been removed.
US President George W Bush praised Israel’s withdrawal in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night.
The Israeli government has also started to dismantle Jewish outposts in Palestinian settlements as part of the peace plan and Israeli tanks and troops withdrew from the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.
The US announced a $30 million aid package to the Palestinian Authority to rebuild infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
