Four Palestinians killed by Israel, new Israeli threats to invade Gaza

Four Palestinians were killed and others wounded, while other 25 were arrested and three houses demolishes in new incursions for the Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza, covering Rafah, al-Khalil, Jenin, and Balatah camp which is close to Nablus and Toulkarem.

Meantime, an explosive went off in a main fuel center situated to the north of Tel Aviv and this resulted in the eruption of a large fire.

The Israeli radio said that explosive was placed in the lower part of a lorry which was parked at the center and was detonated from a mobile telephone.

On the other hand, the Israeli forces dismantled an explosive belt of 10 Kg weight found with a Palestinian who was arrested at the industrial area near Erez barrier to the north of Gaza.

The Israeli forces also traced and dismantled an explosive of 100 KG weight placed on one of the roads trodden by the Israeli tanks near Doughit settlement to the north of Gaza.

In retaliation to the continued attacks by the Israeli army against the Palestinians, one shell was dropped at the Israeli settlements close to Gaza.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat said that the Palestinian presidential and legislative elections will be held by the beginning of 2003.

In statements to the press, Arafat added that the presidential and legislative elections will be held in winter while the other local and municipal elections will be held by the end of the current year 2002.

Replying to a question on whether these elections are linked to the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories, Arafat said that making the elections is not linked to the Israeli withdrawal, but he expressed his hope the Israeli forces to pull out so as the elections to be held freely.