Israeli forces killed a Hamas fugitive this morning as part of an offensive against the Islamic militant group. the army said today.
The killing came as the Israeli defence minister decided to lift a closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip imposed last week.
Israeli troops killed the activist outside his home in the West Bank town of Yatta. The man was armed and was shot to death when he tried to flee, the army said. A relative said he was killed without provocation.
The army also said it arrested three Palestinian women on suspicion they planned to carry out suicide bombings. No explosives were found on them, and the army declined to elaborate.
The easing of travel restrictions on Palestinians came despite threats by Hamas to unleash more attacks on Israelis after the deaths of eight members of its military wing in three days.
In London, Palestinian and Israeli delegations are to attend talks this week on Palestinian government reform and international aid to the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinians will request $1.5 billion in aid from international donors through April 2004, Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said.
In other developments, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's deputy in the PLO, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, said Monday that if offered the post of prime minister, he would seriously consider it.
Mr Arafat agreed last week to create the post, provided it is approved by the PLO and the legislature. Mideast mediators want Mr Arafat to hand over the running of the government to a prime minister.
AP