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Mideast violence flares
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ISRAELI troops and Palestinians fought one of the fiercest gun battles for days in the Gaza Strip yesterday, despite Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's vow not to hold peace talks until violence ends.
At least four people were hurt in several hours of shooting at Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Palestinians accused Israeli soldiers of firing tank shells during the clash and the army said Palestinians had used armor-piercing grenades.
Sharon said yesterday after a visit to the United States that Washington supported his determination to resist a Palestinian uprising against occupation.
“There is complete American agreement and understanding that we cannot surrender to violence and terrorism,” Sharon told Israel's Army Radio in an interview broadcast as he flew home from the United States.
Reiterating his refusal to resume peace talks while Palestinians continue their protests against Israeli rule over Arab land, he said: “There will be no peace negotiations under threats of terrorism and violence.”
In new violence, the Israeli army said soldiers killed a Palestinian trying to plant a roadside bomb at an Israeli kibbutz, or collective farm, near Gaza late on Wednesday.
Israeli tanks fired four shells late on Wednesday at a training base of a special unit near the flashpoint Jewish settlement of Netzarim, just two kilometres from Arafat's Gaza City headquarters, the Palestinians said. A member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat special guard was killed by the shells.
Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire in southern Gaza early yesterday. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces were on alert after police foiled an attempted car bombing in a Jerusalem neighbourhood on Wednesday.
Each side blames the other for the violence which erupted in late September after peace talks became deadlocked.
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