Heavy fighting ahead of Israeli withdrawal

Fierce fighting continued in the West Bank city of Bethlehem today with Palestinian gunmen battling Israeli tanks which fired…

Fierce fighting continued in the West Bank city of Bethlehem today with Palestinian gunmen battling Israeli tanks which fired at least four missiles hours before a planned pullout by Israeli troops.

Witnesses said Israeli tank fire had sent gunmen running into alleys at the crossroads between the city and the Palestinian town of Beit Jala.

The Israeli army said its troops had used light weaponry during confrontations which erupted after they came under fire from Palestinian gunmen.

Witnesses said the gunmen, using tripod-mounted machine guns, fired at a building where they said Israeli undercover forces were holding several Palestinians hostage.

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Soldiers were later seen emerging from the building and speeding away in army vehicles after a heated battle with the gunmen. Several Palestinians were visible in the doorway of the building after the soldiers left.

Israeli officials have said Israel's withdrawal from Bethlehem and Beit Jala will depend on complete quiet in the areas they occupied.

Earlier in the day, witnesses had reported shooting and Israeli tank and gunfire towards Bethlehem's Aza refugee camp. The Israeli army said it was unaware of any disturbances there.

Meanwhile, officials from both sides met at joint liaison offices in Bethlehem after overnight fighting to discuss details of the pullout, which was also the subject of a three-hour meeting of Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs in Tel Aviv on Friday.