By Jon E. Dougherty
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 2
2000

Despite a truce agreement between former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, gunfire originating from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas is continuing against Israeli security and army forces, as well as against Jewish communities.

Also, within hours of the agreement, a powerful car bomb exploded in the Jerusalem market area of Mahane Yehuda, killing two and wounding 11, officials said.

In the wake of the bombing, Palestinian gunmen began to open fire at Jewish homes in Hebron, IsraelWire said. Also, shooting could be heard in the Samarian community of P'sagot.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Force soldiers took gunfire from Palestinian militants while on guard at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. Earlier Thursday evening, troops at Ayosh Junction, south of Bet El, were fired upon as well.

"Automatic gunfire is being directed into the Benjamin Regional Council community of P'sagot," IsraelWire said. "The shooting is originating in the nearby PLO Authority (PA) autonomous cities of el-Bireh/Ramallah."

In all instances, there were no reports of injuries.

According to Israeli military officials, gunfire from Palestinian-controlled areas is a common nightly occurrence that seemingly has not been affected by the truce agreed to by Peres and Arafat during negotiations yesterday.

As part of that agreement, Israel began to pull back some tanks and troops from hot spots in Palestinian-controlled areas such as Nablus in the West Bank and communities in the Gaza Strip.

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Israeli soldiers fired upon from Lebanon