An elderly Israeli man was shot dead today as Hamas threatened new attacks if Israel does not end the virtual house arrest of Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat.
Palestinian gunmen shot dead an elderly Israeli man who drove up to the Palestinian-ruled town of Bethlehem, Israeli police and Palestinian security sources reported today.
"An Israeli man (72) entered the Bethlehem area and was murdered by Palestinians", an Israeli police spokesman said, adding the circumstances of his entry into the Palestinian-ruled town and his death were under investigation.
Meanwhile the armed wing of radical Palestinian group Hamas threatened today to resume attacks inside Israel unless the Israelis lift restrictions imposed on Mr Arafat.
"Our brigades will turn life (for Israelis) into unbearable hell," it warned in a statement.
Mr Arafat has been confined to his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah since December 3rd by an Israeli army blockade following a wave of Palestinian suicide attacks in Israel.
Today was the first time Hamas had threatened to carry out attacks inside Israeli territory since it announced on December 21st it would adhere to Mr Arafat's December 16th call for an end to all armed attacks against Israel.