Wednesday, November 6, before being killed himself by a security guard, Israeli army officials said.
The militant apparently entered the Gush Katif area where he opened fire on farmers working there. "He also pulled out a grenade when challenged, but was shot before he could detonate it," the Voice of America (VOA) broadcasting network reported.
The militant Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack which came shortly after three Palestinian mortars landed in the same settlement, without causing injuries, Israel radio and other news reports said.
"This is a very hard terror attack," the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem News Service qouted representatives of the settlement as saying.
"It was apparently perpetrated by a Palestinian who used to work here," the settlers said.
These latest incidents came a day after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reluctantly accepted to hold early elections within 90 days, following the Labor party’s decision to leave the cabinet in part to protest the current funding of Jewish settlement projects.
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
Although the Palestinian Authority has condemned attacks against civilians, it made clear that the only way to stop the violence is "when Israeli’s vote for a government that supports peace," in the upcoming elections.
However Prime Minister Sharon has suggested there can be no talks about a peace process as long as Palestinian militants continue to threaten innocent civilians, including pregnant women and children.
As part of his proclaimed military campaign against terrorism, Israeli soldiers reportedly clashed Tuesday, November 5, in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip with Palestinian gunmen.
TERRORIST ATTACK HALTED
At least two Palestinians were killed and nearly 20 injured in that fighting, VOA said. Israeli police also arrested several Palestinians near Tel Aviv’s international airport, who were allegedly on their way to carry out a terrorist attack, Israel Radio reported.
The violence has lead to concern that the small Christian community in Palestinian territories will nearly disappear as an increasing number of believers are trying to flee the area, BosNewsLife learned earlier Wednesday, November 5.
In a statement seen by BosNewsLife, Palestinian Christians recently urged United States President George W. Bush to demand that Prime Minister Sharon ends his hard-line towards Palestinians, and that he should be more open towards peace proposals.
