Israeli troops surrounded two houses in a West Bank town Thursday, setting off a fierce gunbattle with Palestinian militants that left one soldier dead and forced the surrender of five wanted men. It was Israel's second strike against Palestinian militants this week. Opinion polls showed the first incursion - a dramatic prison raid that captured six militants Tuesday - boosted voter support for acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before the March 28 elections.
Thursday's shootout in Jenin erupted as soldiers demanded the surrender of five fugitives from Islamic Jihad and the Fatah-linked Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The army said one wanted man ran out of a building early during the raid, and the other four surrendered later. An Israeli soldier was shot to death. Students threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, and an army bulldozer tried to disperse the crowd. Troops took over homes in the area, fighting with gunmen. |