6 Killed in Gunbattle in Jewish Settlement near Hebron

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, December 28, 2002

6 Killed in Gunbattle in Jewish Settlement near Hebron

Four Jewish settlers and two Palestinian militants were killed on Friday night during their gunbattle in the Jewish settlement of Otniel located south of the West Bank town of Hebron.

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Four Jewish settlers and two Palestinian militants were killed on Friday night during their gunbattle in the Jewish settlement of Otniel located south of the West Bank town of Hebron.

Israeli radio reported that the four Jewish settlers were killedand seven others wounded as a Palestinian gunman opened fire and threw grenades at people inside the settlement's dining hall.

The Palestinian militant was later shot dead in a 30-minute gunbattle with Israeli troops who arrived at the scene after explosions and gunshots were heard in the area.

In less than two hours later, three Israeli troops were wounded,one seriously, in an exchange of fire with another Palestinian militant who involved in the attack in the nearby Palestinian town of Dahariya.

Israeli medical sources told the Radio that of the wounded civilians, there are two who suffered serious injuries, one had moderate wounds and another was lightly hurt.

Islamic Jihad (Holy War) organization claimed responsibility forthe attack in an announcement sent to the pro-Hezbollah satellite television station Al-Manar broadcasting from Lebanon.

The group said that it was in revenge for the Israeli army killing of nine Palestinians, including Jihad activist Hamza abu al-Roub, in separate incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Thursday.

In recent months the Hebron area has been the main target of armed attacks in the Palestinian territories.

On Nov. 15, nine Israeli soldiers and three security officers were killed in an Islamic Jihad ambush in Kiryat Arba, while two weeks ago an Israeli policeman and policewoman were killed in Hebron.

Peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel have been derailed due to mounting violence between them.

More than 2,780 people, including Palestinians and 680 Israelis,have been killed since the outbreak of violence in late September, 2000.

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