Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Barak allowed late Monday the reopening of the Gaza
Airport, reported Israeli army radio. In another report, the radio said that heavy gunfighting between Palestinians and the Israeli forces was underway in many parts of the Palestinian territories.
Israel extended on November 1 what was promised to be a one-day closure of the Palestinian international airport in the Gaza Strip.
The airport at Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip was closed last Monday for the third time in a month and the army had said in a statement that it would be allowed to re-open on Tuesday. But Israel then told airport officials in writing that it could only open on Wednesday morning.
Al Jazira TV channel said the fighting took place in Jenin, Beireh and to the north of Jericho, but at a lower level than previous confrontations.
Tanks fired two shells in Jericho, while several shells were launched against buildings near the entrance of Jenin, the witnesses told AFP.
No injuries were immediately reported.
A military spokesman confirmed the shelling: "We responded to rounds of automatic-weapon fire against our forces."
Witnesses said Palestinians and Israelis had fired automatic weapons at one another near the Palestinian village of Dura and near the Jewish settlement of Beit Hagai in the southern West Bank.
The incidents come four days after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres agreed on steps to reduce violence in the Palestinian territories.
In its internet edition, Haaretz said earlier that there had been renewed clashes in the Palestinian territories, with exchanges of fire at Tul Karm, Tel a-Ras, the Ayosh Junction and in Hebron.
A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli army vehicle near Kedumim, added Haaretz, but no injuries were reported.
Riots also took place at the Abu-Dis Junction, north of Jerusalem. Palestinian youths attempted to reach the Shay county border patrol barrier while hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails. Border police responded by firing rubber coated bullets and spraying tear gas. Palestinian sources reported two injuries – Albawaba.com
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