Israeli security officials say they plan a broad military operation in the West Bank cities of Nablus and Tulkarm --in response to a deadly attack late Sunday at a kibbutz in northern Israel.
Reports from Israel late Monday said the Israeli army was preparing for the operation, but gave no indication when troops will move in. Earlier, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon discussed Israel's response to the attack with his newly-appointed Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Monday he has set up a committee to look into the attack, in which a lone Palestinian gunman killed five civilians -- including two young boys -- before escaping into the West Bank, about one kilometer away.
The gunman shot dead a mother and her two sons in their beds and two other members of Kibbutz Metzer. Residents of the Jewish farming community, which grows bananas and raises cattle, have had friendly relations with their Palestinian neighbors for years. News reports from Israel say most members of the kibbutz support the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Mr. Arafat's Fatah movement says it carried out the attack. The deadly incident took place on the same day Palestinian Hamas and Fatah officials launched talks in Cairo to discuss ending suicide bombings. Israel's new Foreign Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says the latest killings are another reason why Mr. Arafat should be removed. Mr. Netanyahu repeated his demand for the expulsion of what he calls the "terror regime" of Mr. Arafat.
Mr. Netanyahu is challenging Israeli Prime Minister Sharon for leadership of the Likud Party. It was announced Monday the leadership vote in the Likud party will be held November 28th, the leadership vote in the Labor Party will be held November 19th and the parliamentary elections will be held January 28th.
The violence continued Monday, as witnesses said Israeli troops in the southern Gaza Strip shot dead a two-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded at least two other children in the town of Rafah.
Before the kibbutz attack Sunday, Israeli forces said two suicide bombers were killed in the same area when their car blew up as police moved to stop the vehicle near the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Officials say it is not clear if explosives went off by accident or were intentionally detonated by the men in the car.
The latest violence hit as U-S envoy David Satterfield prepared to visit the troubled region for separate meetings this week with Israeli and Palestinian officials to work on a peace plan.