At least four Israelis were killed and 20 others wounded in attack in Beit Shean

JENIN, West Bank, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility Thursday, November 28, for the shooting attack in the northern Israeli town of Beit Shean in which six people were killed, including four Israelis, with Israel threatening tough response.

In an anonymous call to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the caller said the Al-Aqsa Brigades, an armed offshoot of Fatah movement, had carried out the shooting and grenade attack on a Likud party polling station In Beit Shean to avenge the death of two resistance leaders in Jenin two days ago.

Alaa Sabbagh, 25, the local leader of the brigades, and Imad Nacharti, 23, the local head of Hamas' Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, were killed when an Israeli missile hit their house in Jenin refugee camp, Palestinian security sources saifd at the time.

However, the Israeli army denied any involvement in the blast.

Thursday's shooting came only hours after two back-to-back attacks against Israeli targets in Kenya.

A car bomb killed 15 people, including three Israelis, in the coastal Kenyan town of Mombasa, and two missiles almost hit an Israeli airliner over Kenya shortly afterward.

At east four Israeli were killed and more than 20 others wounded, including 10 in critical condition, in the shooting and grenade attack on the Likud headquarters in the northern Israeli town of Beit Shean, some eight kilometers (five miles) from the Jordanian border.

The two gunmen, who sprayed automatic gunfire and threw grenades at the polling station, killing at least four people, were shot dead by police, spokesman Ofer Sivan old AFP.

Public television said one of the dead gunmen was wearing an explosives belt.

Mayor Pini Caballo confirmed on television that the attack targeted the Likud offices, while a police spokesman said the attack only targeted the nearby bus station.

Four people were in serious condition and seven sustained moderate wounds, reported the Israeli Haaretz newspaper.

Most of the injured were evacuated to Haemek Hospital in Afula.

According to initial reports, the attack was carried out by two fighters, who opened fire and threw grenades at people crowding around the branch, which is located in the town's central bus station.

Israel threatened a tough response to fresh attacks on its citizens Thursday, after double attacks in Kenya and a shooting attack on a Likud polling station.

"The war of terrorism they (Palestinian resistance fighters) launched against us leaves us with no other choice but to destroy them before they destroy us," Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin told AFP.

"There is no doubt that one of the reasons for this upsurge in terrorist activity is probably an effort to try and disrupt the electoral process in Israel and Israeli democracy," Gissin claimed.

"Tomorrow is the 55th anniversary of the U.N. resolution 181 partitioning Palestine. Terrorists should have supported resolution if they wanted peace," the spokesman alleged.

"The truth of the matter is that Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas have all inscribed on their flags the complete obliteration ... of the State of Israel.

"I think the effort is to provoke Israel into such a harsh response, or deflect the attention from the efforts of the U.S., which is trying to upset the regime in Iraq," Gissin said.

The attack comes as Likud members are going to the polls across the country to choose their candidate for prime minister in the coming elections.

Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is challenging Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for the leadership of the center-right party.

Iraq: India Supports Iraq, Says Saddam Shouldn't Feel Let Down Inspection Team Checks ‘Mother of All Battles’ Complex New British Dossier on Iraq, U.S. Interests Endangered By Strike Blair's Lies Uncovered, U.S. to Use Inspectors: Baghdad CIA Reports May Be Used in U.N. Inspections: Blix Environmentalists Concerned About Impacts of Iraq War Palestine: Al-Durra Comes Back to Life ‘Bulldozer Sharon’ Deals ‘Indecisive Netanyahu’ New Knockout Sharon Wins Likud Vote According to Official Result Al-Aqsa Brigades Claim Beit Shean Attack, Israel Threatens Reprisal Ramadan Ramadan in Mexico Muslims in Kosovo Perform Taraweeh in the Open New Muslims Enjoy Peace, Serenity of Ramadan Fast Attacks Against U.S.-Led Coalition Forces Intensify in Afghanistan India's Defense, Foreign Ministers Contradict Each Other on Pakistan Massive Demo Planned in UK to Protest “Zionist Racism, Arrogance”  International Day of Solidarity with Palestine Celebrated in Mexico Palestinian Teenager Killed by Israeli Fire in Gaza, Violence Continues  U.S. Supports Iraqi Opposition in Exile, Seeks Turkish Backing for War Women to Get Their Own Train Coaches in Philippines Hasina Dares Ruling Party to Prove Claims Or Face Charges  Last Friday Prayers in Bangladesh Observed with Religious Solemnity Alleged Bin Laden's Tape Not Genuine: Swiss Experts U.S. Receives Russian Assurances Over Chechen Refugees Kenya Attacks Suspects Hunted, U.S. Blames Somali Group Thousands March in Australian Anti-War Protests Chechen War Reaches Moscow World Wide War Invasion into Gaza Arafat HQ Destroyed… In Pictures Homeless in Minutes War on Iraq.. World Reaction Yesterday's News Advanced Search     News Archive : Day: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31     Month: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12   Year: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999