As Israelis kill boy, new Labour leader offers talks

MIDDLE EAST: An eight-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday

MIDDLE EAST: An eight-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday. The new leader of the Labour Party, Mr Amram Mitzna, announced he would employ many of the methods adopted by the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, in fighting terror, except he was ready to speak to the Palestinians even as the violence continues.

The boy, Jihad Faqeh, was shot dead during clashes between Israeli troops and a group of stone-throwing youths in Nablus.

The exact circumstances of the boy's death were unclear, with some Palestinian hospital officials saying he had been killed after he left school with his classmates in the area where the clashes were taking place.

At least seven Palestinians were also wounded in the clashes, including two people said to be in serious condition. The army said two home-made explosive devices had been hurled at troops.

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Hundreds of Palestinians defied the curfew in Nablus to buy food to prepare for the meal after sundown which ends the day-long fast during the month of Ramadan.

In Bethlehem, reoccupied by Israel last Friday after a suicide attack in Jerusalem killed 11 people, residents also left their homes thinking troops had pulled out of the city.

But the army said there had been no withdrawal, and troops soon reappeared and drove the Palestinians back to their homes.

The military yesterday arrested Firas Fidi, a senior activist of the Hamas movement, whom it said was responsible for sending two suicide bombers to Jerusalem. They were seized by troops 10 days ago, allegedly on their way to carry out an attack.

At a news conference yesterday, Mr Mitzna repeated his pledge to try to re-engage the Palestinians in talks and to "disengage" Israel from much of the Occupied Territories.

The dovish ex-general, who was the Israeli commander in the West Bank during the first intifada uprising in the late 1980s, said if elected prime minister - polls currently give him little hope - he would "fight terrorism with all the means" at the country's disposal.

But Mr Mitzna said he was also ready to talk, immediately, to Palestinian Authority President Mr Yasser Arafat. Echoing assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, the new Labour leader said he would "fight terrorism as if there are no negotiations and negotiate as if there is no terrorism".