Five Palestinians, one Jew killed in Israel

Five Palestinians and a Jew were killed in two outbreaks of violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank, just a day after Israel completed the removal of 9,000 Israelis from 25 settlements in its historic "disengagement" project.

Late Wednesday, five Palestinians were shot dead during an Israeli army arrest raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp, residents and the army said. Israeli soldiers surrounded a house and exchanged fire with the Palestinians inside and outside, the army and witnesses said.

Four Palestinians were initially killed and taken by the army, which later turned them over to the Palestinians, the army and Palestinian doctors said. Another Palestinian was taken injured to an Israeli hospital, later died and was turned over to the Palestinians, Israel Radio reported.

Israeli military officials identified the five as top local leaders of the Islamic Jihad, who helped plan the last two suicide bombings in Israel in Tel Aviv in February and Netanya in July. Palestinian witnesses said at least two of the Palestinians, ages 16 and 17, were not armed, according to the AP.

Pravda.ru reminds, that the evacuation of the West Bank is completed. 15,000 settlers and supporters have been forced to leave the territories. Israeli troops should be out of Gaza in late September, ahead of schedule.