the worst day of violence since last week’s Jordan summit on Mid-east peace.
Five Palestinians, all believed to be gunmen, were also shot dead. Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – the armed wing of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah Faction, claimed responsibility for the bloodiest attack early Sunday.
"This joint operation was committed to confirm our people’s united choice of holy war and resistance until the end of occupation over our land and holy places," the three groups stated in swiftly published claim of responsibility.
Several of Palestinian attackers reportedly came dressed as Israeli soldiers and shot end killed four Israeli troops in an Israeli army base near Erez, in the northern Gaza Strip. They were later shot dead themselves after a lengthy gun-battle with Israeli forces, reports said.
NEW CLOSURES
Following the attack the Israeli government ordered the immediate closing of the Eretz crossing which is used daily by thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to enter Israel to work, said the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
Despite the closure, one Israeli was killed in another shooting attack close to a site that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims, in the divided West Bank city of Hebron, the Voice of America (VOA) network reported.
However Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon claimed Sunday, June 8, that a "victory over Palestinian terrorism is at hand." Sharon was addressing a raucous meeting of the central committee of his ruling Likud Party in Jerusalem.
MILITANT GROUPS
He called on his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, to move against the militant Palestinian groups behind the attacks against Israelis. Otherwise, Sharon warned, Israel would take matters into his own hands, reports said.
Hamas has condemned Abbas’ speech at the end of last week’s summit in Jordan with Mr. Sharon and President Bush. In the address, he called for an end to the armed Palestinian uprising and condemned Palestinian terrorism.
But Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantis told reporters that Palestinians will continue to fight Israel and will not "surrender to the pressure exerted by Israel and the United States of America."
"ENEMY OF PEACE"
The United States has described Hamas as an "enemy of peace" and pledged to help the Palestinian Authority build its capabilities to counter the terrorist organization.
"Hamas is an enemy of peace and we will continue working with all parties to try to achieve peace," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday, June 6.
There is concern that Prime Minister Abbas has not enough control over the security forces and that Arafat remains powerful despite efforts by the US and Israel to side line him because of his alleged links to terrorism.
