BETHLEHEM, Palestine

Israeli tanks thrust into the centre of Bethlehem early today as Israeli forces fanned across the West Bank in a hunt for Palestinian 'militants' behind a wave of bomb attacks.

Witnesses in Bethlehem said Israeli tanks pulled up a few hundred meters from the Church of the Nativity.

Earlier, Israeli forces raided the Deheisheh refugee camp on Bethlehem's outskirts where troops carried out a house-to-house search for Palestinian 'militants'.


Security Chief's HQ Entered

Jibril al-Rajoub, the Palestinian Preventive security chief in the West Bank, said the Israeli army broke into his headquarters in Beitunia, west of Ramallah, early on Tuesday.

Rajoub, the Palestinian Preventive Security chief in the territory, told Reuters by telephone that tanks and armor entered the compound where 400 Palestinians were sheltering.

Rajoub, who was not inside the compound, said the premises were being targeted by tanks and helicopter machineguns.

The Israeli army had no immediate comment. An Israeli security source had said Israel was seeking to arrest some 50 'militants' who were being hidden in Rajoub's headquarters, including some who topped Israel's most-wanted list.


Rocket Fired at Israel from South Lebanon

KIRYAT SHMONA

A Katyusha rocket fired from south Lebanon exploded early today near this northern Israeli town without causing any damage or claiming victims, Israeli security officials said.

It was the first firing of a rocket from Lebanon since Israel's unilateral military pullout from south Lebanon in May 2000. The attack was not immediately claimed.