An Israeli helicopter attack in Bethlehem this evening killed a leading member of Mr Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement as well as two other Palestinians, security officials said.
Mr Atef Abayat, a senior member of Fatah faction and sought by Israel for allegedly shooting a Jewish settler woman last month, was one of those who died in the blast near Bethlehem, the witnesses said.
They said three bodies were found amid the mangled remains of a car. Palestinian security officials, who did not release any names, confirmed that three people had died.
Tonight Palestinian gunmen fired on the Jewish settlement of Gilo on the outskirts of Jerusalem from a town on the edge of Bethlehem, in response to the Israeli attack.
Meanwhile about 1,000 enraged Palestinians tried to storm a prison in Bethlehem in the West Bank and lynch men detained for collaborating with Israel.
The helicopter attack occurred a day after Israel promised retribution for the assassination by Palestinian gunmen of Tourism Minister Mr Rehavam Zeevi.
Earlier today a 12-year-old schoolgirl was killed when Israeli tanks opened fire on a school, Palestinian doctors said.
It happened after Israel issued an ultimatum to Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat saying he must hand over the assassins of Mr Zeevi or face harsh retribution.
In an escalating exchange of bitter accusations, Mr Arafat aide Mr Nabil Abu Rdainah said Israel had a complete plan to assassinate Mr Arafat and other officials but gave no details.
An Israeli government spokesman declined to comment specifically on the allegation, except to say: "Israel is not involved in an overall war with the Palestinian Authority".
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An Israeli tank in manoeuvres last week
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Palestinian security officials and hospital sources said a 12-year-old Palestinian girl was killed and six people wounded in Jenin when Israeli tank shells fell on a schoolyard.
Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinian security force members during the incursion into Ramallah, Palestinian officials said.
The tanks took up positions in outlying districts of Jenin and Ramallah early this morning drawing Palestinian fire as they imposed a curfew.
In Jenin, shots fired from advancing Israeli tanks hit a classroom of an elementary school, killing the girl and seriously wounding a classmate.
The Israeli army confirmed there was an exchange of fire near the school and said it was checking further.
Troops also imposed a curfew on the Jerusalem suburb of Izzarieh in the West Bank. Soldiers accompanied by dogs searched dozens of homes, including that of Palestinian Cabinet minister Mr Ziad Abu Zayyad, a leading moderate, witnesses said.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said it killed Israel's tourism minister Mr Rehavam Zeevi at a Jerusalem hotel yesterday to avenge its leader, Mr Mustafa Zibri, who was killed August 27th in a targeted Israeli rocket attack while sitting in his Ramallah office.
Israel said it held Mr Arafat directly responsible for the killing of Mr Zeevi, saying the Palestinian leader has done nothing to restrain militants, despite pledges he made as part of a September 26th truce deal to try to prevent attacks on Israelis.
"Time after time, Arafat has deceived Israel and the entire international community," the Israeli Cabinet statement said.
But Palestinian cabinet minister Mr Saeb Erekat said Israel was using the Mr Zeevi killing as a pretext for trying to crush the Palestinian Authority. He said the Palestinians have appealed to the United States and the European Union for help.
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security forces arrested three senior members of the PFLO. Three other wanted PFLP activists had gone into hiding, security officials said.
AP