Three Palestinians were killed and an Israeli soldier was lightly wounded Wednesday in a clash in a refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin. According to Israeli sources, all the three were Islamic Jihad members, including Ashraf Sa'adi, 25, the West Bank leader pf the Islamic Jihad's armed wing, and two of his aides, Mohammed Abu Nasser and Ala el Bareiki.
Palestinians sources said, however, that el Bareiki was a taxi driver, and was driving the Islamic Jihad men.
Israel Radio reported that Sa'adi was the new commander of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin, and took over after his predecessor was killed by the Israeli forces one week ago.
According to the AP, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, Abu Ahmad, vowed a swift response. "This new crime will not pass without tough punishment," Abu Ahmad reacted. "Their blood will be the fuel of our holy battle. And our reaction is coming soon."
The three were sitting in a vehicle when a black car drove up alongside them, witnesses said. According to the Israeli army, Sa'adi noticed the undercover troops, and opened fire in their direction, injuring one of them in the shoulder. The Israelis returned fire, killing the three passengers.
In Nablus, the Israeli army on Wednesday continued its large-scale operation "Hot Winter," which is focusing primarily on carrying out arrests in the Old City. Schools in the city were closed, and access routes to hospitals were blocked.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army significantly reduced its troop presence in the city.
