Israeli Troops Attack Hamas Hideout; Both Sides React to Plans for Summit
In the Israeli raid in Nablus, an activist in the Islamic militant group Hamas and an Israeli soldier were killed, while two Palestinians and two soldiers were wounded. Elsewhere in Nablus, a Palestinian policeman was killed in a clash with Israeli troops.

The Israeli raid began at about 4 a.m. and ended some five hours later, witnesses and the army said. Heavy gunfire erupted when Israeli forces converged on a three-story building on the edge of Nablus' Old City or casbah, which was the scene of fierce fighting last month between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen.

The targeted building was in Nablus' main commercial district, and about 16 surrounding shops were destroyed in the fighting, neighborhood residents said. They said they cowered in inner rooms of their apartments as the Israelis fired tank shells and heavy machine guns. The army said two bomb factories were found in the building, as well as a car full of weapons.

Adnan Asfour, one of the Hamas leaders in Nablus, said the raid was counterproductive. ``What's going on is increasing our determination to continue our struggle, until we achieve our goals, such as an independent state,'' he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Palestinians.html