4 Israeli soldiers, 2 Palestinians killed in attack on post

Associated Press WriterJERUSALEM (AP) -- In the first deadly Palestinian attack on Israelis in nearly a month, two Palestinians stormed an Israeli army post near the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, killing four soldiers before being shot dead in a gunbattle, the military said.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic militant Hamas group, dealt a severe blow to U.S. truce efforts. Earlier this week, a U.S. mediator had left the region on a hopeful note, saying both sides were working toward a truce after a lull of several weeks.

The four soldiers killed Wednesday were members of the Israeli army's Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, made up almost entirely of Bedouin Arabs.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said he was sticking to the truce, and the Palestinian Authority issued a statement condemning the attack.

However, Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz held Arafat's government responsible, saying the incident proved "beyond any doubt that the Palestinian Authority is not fighting against the infrastructure of terrorism."

Israel's security Cabinet met for three hours Wednesday morning, and Israel TV quoted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as telling the ministers that Israel would stick to the principle of retaliating for every attack.

Hassan Yousef, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, said the group resumed attacks -- despite a public pledge last month to observe a truce -- because of what he said was continued Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

The drop-off in violence had encouraged Zinni to launch his latest mission. The last deadly Palestinian attack on Israelis was Dec. 12 when a Hamas member opened fire on an Israeli bus, killing 10 passengers and wounding 30. Four days later, acting under growing international pressure, Arafat declared a halt to all attacks.

Since then, there has been a sharp drop in Palestinian violence. Mortar fire stopped, and there were only sporadic shootings. The Palestinian security forces also rounded up dozens of members of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. Since Arafat's call, 20 Palestinians have been killed -- including seven who died in clashes with Palestinian police cracking down on militants -- and troops have entered Palestinian areas nine time to arrest militants.

Wednesday's attack began at around 4 a.m. when attackers cut through the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip, near the Israeli farming village of Kerem Shalom.

The attackers stormed an army outpost, throwing grenades and firing assault rifles. One assailant fired at two soldiers in a jeep, while the second charged a nearby observation post, seriously wounding the sentry, said Maj. Gen. Doron Almog, head of the army's Southern Command. After the initial attack, an army patrol rushed to the scene, but also drew fire. A major, two sergeants and a fourth soldier were killed in the attack. Two soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously.

The two assailants, both dressed in Palestinian police uniforms, were killed.

The assailants were identified as Mohammed Abu Jamous and Emad Rizzek, residents of the Rafah refugee camp. Abu Jamous was a member of the Palestinian naval police. Clutching a photograph of her husband of only three months, Andalib Abu Jamous, 20, said her husband did not return home the night before the attack.

"He said he was going to spend the night praying at the mosque," she said, tears streaming down her face. She was sitting on cushions in between female relatives who held green Hamas flags in their hands.

Both men were well-known Hamas supporters, camp residents said.

Despite the Palestinian arrests of militants, Israel has said the crackdown has not targeted the masterminds of terror attacks. Sharon has said Arafat has not abandoned violence, and that the lull was temporary to allow the Palestinians to regroup.

The Israeli allegations were fueled by Israel's interception last week of a weapons shipment allegedly intended for the Palestinian Authority.

Israel has sent intelligence officials to the United States and Europe to press its claim that the Palestinian Authority was responsible for the ship carrying 50 tons of weapons, including rockets that could have threatened Israeli cities.

On Wednesday, Israel demanded that the Palestinian Authority arrest Fuad Shobaki, head of the finance department in the Palestinian security services, for allegedly funding the arms purchases, Israeli officials said. Israel has said four crew members, including the captain, were members of the Palestinian naval police.

The Palestinian Authority has denied it was behind the smuggling attempt and has promised to investigate whether any of its officials were involved in it.

Arafat on Wednesday dismissed the Israeli charges. "They are inventing a new issue every time. The last was the ship," Arafat said. "I don't know why we should go buy weapons from the outside, while the Israeli mafia has these weapons at a cheaper price."

Sharon said the captured arms shipment showed Iran and the Palestinians were closely collaborating to strike at Israel. The Palestinian captain of the ship has said that the weapons were loaded near Iran's coast and intended for the Palestinians.