Palestinian gunmen shot dead an Israeli civilian near the Israeli-West Bank border today further weakening an already fragile US brokered truce.
The shooting was the latest violence to shake up the ceasefire agreed by Israel and the Palestinians on June 13th. Fifteen Palestinians and 10 Israelis have been killed since the truce was arranged by US CIA Director Mr George Tenet.
Earlier today a Palestinian teenager wounded four months ago by Israeli bullets in the Gaza Strip died in a Jordanian hospital where he had been treated.
Murad Jamil al-Masri, 14, died from a wound to the head from a live bullet fired by an Israeli soldier in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip four months ago, the source said.
Israel's security cabinet decided to take stronger action against Palestinian militants in a campaign to head off attacks against Israelis.
The report said the 13-member forum approved a decision by senior cabinet members yesterday to target more Palestinian militants in what the Palestinian Authority has called a policy of assassination.
"The policy [of restraint] will continue, but our response to acts carried out by the Palestinians will perhaps be slightly stronger," Health Minister Mr Shlomo Benizri, a member of the security cabinet said.
Palestinians accuse Israel of assassinating some 40 activists since an uprising against Israeli occupation erupted last September after peace talks became deadlocked.
Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon has called for "worldwide pressure" on Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat to adhere to the truce brokered in mid-June by US CIA director Mr George Tenet.