Israel imposes restrictions on Bethlehem area

JERUSALEM, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
announced Tuesday that it was reintroducing some restrictions on the
Bethlehem area after two Israeli soldiers were shot dead at a
roadblock.

Two Palestinian gunmen early Tuesday opened fire at an Israel
army unit stationed at the checkpoint in the southern West Bank city
of Bethlehem, killing two soldiers.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz condemned the attack, saying
it was a "very serious" issue amid fresh efforts to renew peace talks
with the Palestinians.

The IDF transferred security control over the Bethlehem region to
the Palestinian National Authority on July 3. Tuesday's attack was
the third in the area since the security handover.

The attack was also the first deadly attack on Israelis since
Oct. 24 when Palestinian militants killed three soldiers guarding the
Gaza settlement of Netzarim.

During the same period, 25 Palestinians were killed by Israeli
troops, including eight children.

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PA security arrests killer of two IDF soldiers
by the IBA

Palestinian security sources confirmed that they arrested a
Palestinian policeman for allegedly killing two IDF soldiers at a
checkpoint near the Tunnel Road Tuesday. They said Jaber Al Atrash, a
Gaza Strip resident who was caught in Bethlehem late Tuesday,
confessed to carrying out the attack.

He hid his rifle in a prayer rug, shot the soldiers, and then made
his getaway by threatening a passing Palestinian taxi driver at
gunpont, and getting out at the entrance to the village of El Kadar,
near Bethlehem.