Conflict in Gaza Strip Escalates After Withdrawal in Jenin
A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at an Israeli military checkpoint Friday, ending a period of relative quiet in the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops withdrew from the West Bank town of Jenin in line with a promise to the United States to scale down a 3-week-old military offensive.

Also Friday, seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including two gunmen trying to infiltrate into a Jewish settlement, and two boys, ages nine and 14, who doctors said were shot by troops enforcing a curfew in the town of Ramallah.

In funerals in the Gaza Strip, supporters of Islamic militant groups and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement threatened to carry out new attacks in Israel to avenge at least 200 Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive.
Leading a funeral procession in Gaza City, a masked Fatah activist told mourners he had a message for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: ``You have opened the gates of hell .... Murder for murder, and destruction for destruction.''
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Palestinians.html