A member of Mr Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction was shot dead today in what Palestinians called an Israeli assassination, fuelling tensions already stoked by an Israeli military build-up near Bethlehem.
Tanks took up position around Bethlehem and the nearby village of Beit Jala in the West Bank after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened to send troops into Beit Jala if Palestinians continue shooting from there at the Jewish settlement of Gilo.
Mr Imad Abu Sneineh (27) was shot in the head, chest, stomach and legs by 10 bullets fired by an Israeli in a car with Palestinian number plates outside his home in the divided West Bank city of Hebron, Palestinian officials said.
Israeli security sources said Mr Abu Sneineh was killed under Israel's policy of killing Palestinians they accuse of carrying out or plotting attacks on Israelis.
They said he was wanted for organising shootings at Jewish settlers in Hebron.
Palestinians accuse Israel of assassinating about 60 people since they began an uprising against Israeli occupation last September after peace negotiations stalled.
Israel moved at least a dozen tanks to the outskirts of Beit Jala and other villages nearby about 24 hours after tanks entered the West Bank town of Jenin and demolished a police building in a response to Palestinian suicide bombings.
Soon after the Jenin raid, shooting erupted in areas of the West Bank south of Jerusalem, including Bethlehem and Beit Jala.