Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who they claim was trying to escape arrest near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Three other Jihad militants were arrested in the operation, andthe house they were hiding in was demolished by the army,Palestinian sources said.
The Israeli army earlier announced it does not plan to withdraw from Bethlehem for Christmas.
The army was reacting to remarks by Israeli President Moshe Katsav who told Pope John Paul II during an historic visit to the Vatican yesterday that the army would redeploy for Christmas if the threat receded.
The Israeli army reoccupied Bethlehem three weeks ago following a Jerusalem bus bombing and placed a curfew on the population.
AFP
