Israel Military Vehicles Enter Bethlehem

By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press Writer (Edited by Bob)

JERUSALEM - A suicide bomber struck a bus near Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's Jerusalem residence Thursday, killing 10 Israelis and
wounding 50 in the deadliest attack in four months and disrupting
modest U.S. efforts to restart peace talks.

In an apparent response, about 20 Israeli military vehicles entered
Bethlehem, early Friday in an operation that appeared limited to
arresting suspects and possibly destroying the house where the bomber
lived, in the Aida refugee camp next to Bethlehem.

Before dawn Friday, Israeli forces instructed Palestinian security
officers to abandon checkpoints outside Bethlehem, and troops moved
into the town, residents said. Israeli military officials, speaking
on condition of anonymity, would say only an operation was in
progress.