Israeli security forces say they have killed three Palestinian militants near Jenin camp in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army said the group was preparing an attack and that an automatic rifle was found in their car.

Islamic Jihad claimed one of those killed was a member, and vowed a "strong response from the resistance".

The deaths on Sunday came a day after a Palestinian gunman fatally shot an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv. Another guard killed the attacker.

He is said to have come from the Jenin area.

On Friday, armed Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village where a young Palestinian man was shot dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the security forces' actions in Jenin, saying: "We will continue to take action - everywhere and at any moment - against those who seek to attack us."

The Jenin camp was the focus of a major Israeli operation last month.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said: "These horrific crimes in Jenin would not have taken place had the perpetrators not felt safe from punishment."

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said those killed had been "assassinated" and that Israel would "not escape paying the price".

The youngest of those killed on Sunday was 15 years old, Palestinian reports said.

On Friday night, extremist settlers went on the rampage in a Palestinian village in the West Bank, killing a 19-year-old man. Israeli police say two settlers were arrested at the time. One of those held is a former spokesman for the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, whose leader is National Security Minister in Mr Netanyahu's government.

Police said five Palestinians were also arrested overnight on Sunday in connection with the incident.

In unusual remarks on Monday, the Israel Defense Force's (IDF) spokesperson said a rise in "nationalistic crime and terrorism" had pushed Palestinians "who are not involved in terrorism, toward terrorism", Israeli news site Yediot Ahronot reported.

His comments echoed a warning to Mr Netanyahu by the head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet that "Jewish terror incites Palestinian terror", as the site put it. It said the warning was issued before Friday.

The latest settler attack meanwhile has been condemned as terrorism by Washington, its stronger language appearing to show increased frustration with the positions of Israel's far-right government.

Source:
courtesy of BBC NEWS

by Yolande Knell | BBC News, Jerusalem

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]