Palestinian sources in Nablus reported late Wednesday that two Palestinian passersby were killed and three injured during a shootout with Israeli soldiers in the Balata refugee camp in the city. Elsewhere, a Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli fire near the West Bank city of Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip, three explosions were heard in a village east of Khan Younis. According to Palestinian sources, five tank shells were fired at a police post near the Gaza village of Karara.
Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush said that the Palestinian leadership must stop attacks against Israel. The American leader stated "time would tell" if the US could work together with the new Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
Despite the violence, Bush insisted the roadmap peace plan was still in place. "I still believe strongly that the two states living side by side in peace is a hopeful vision for the future of the Middle East. The roadmap is still there," Bush conveyed.
He urged Qurei, widely known as Abu Ala, to take action against armed Palestinian groups.
"His job, if he's interested in a two-state solution, is to consolidate power within his administration, to get the security forces under control, all the security forces, and then unleash those security forces against the killers," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
