A Palestinian woman was killed in new fighting today as Israeli forces held onto positions in two Palestinian-ruled West Bank areas despite a renewed international demand for their withdrawal.
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Palestinians chant slogan against Israeli during protest in Beit Lahiya town in the northern Gaza Strip today.
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The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - called yesterday for an Israeli pullout from Palestinian areas and for Palestinians to end 13 months of violence.
Mr Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said troops would not leave West Bank areas around Jenin and Tulkarm until Palestinian security forces agreed to restrain militants and prevent violence.
"There is a plan to withdraw. It has been postponed and delayed because of the current security situation," Mr Gissin said. "People get killed, that's why we're there... Under these conditions we can't withdraw."
Later today, a gun battle erupted between troops and Palestinian gunmen in Tulkarm, Palestinian witnesses and medics said Ms Wafa Nasif, 29, was shot dead by Israeli fire as she sat in her home.