Israel tonight partially lifted a six-month-long ban on Palestinian labourers crossing into its territory and voiced regret over its troops firing on a convoy carrying Palestinian security chiefs.
But Israeli diplomatic sources said security talks with Palestinians the sides had agreed to hold today had been canceled. Palestinian officials said their leaders had never actually decided whether to meet the Israelis.
Meanwhile the violence continued. Palestinians fired a mortar bomb in the Jewish settlement of Atzmona in the Gaza Strip but no one was injured, an Israeli army spokeswoman said.
Shortly after the explosion was heard, Israeli helicopter gunships hovered over Gaza City. Last week Israel launched missile strikes on Palestinian security targets in response to mortar fire.
In the West Bank, a 40-year-old Palestinian was shot dead in the village of Beitunia, the latest victim of more than six months of Israeli-Palestinian violence, a hospital doctor said.
In other incidents, an Israeli spokesman said Palestinians had vandalized the Karni crossing point where the sides transfer goods between Israel and Gaza, forcing Israel to close it. Gun battles flared in the West Bank.
AFP