Palestinian security chief's house hit by tank shells

By From Pierre Klochendler
CNN Producer

JERUSALEM -- Israeli tank shells hit the house of a Palestinian security chief early Sunday evening in the West Bank.

Five of Col. Gibril Rajoub's bodyguards were moderately wounded, according to the Palestinian Media Center.

Windows were shattered and there were holes in the house, but it was not destroyed. Rajoub was not at home at the time, the sources said.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said the shelling occurred after shots were fired near the Israeli settlements of Psagot in the West Bank.

"In this incident, an Israeli soldier was wounded. As a reaction, the Israeli Army shot precise fire to the house from which they clearly identified the source of fire. The IDF is stressing that there was no intention to hurt Col. Girbril Rajoub."

But a statement from the Palestinians disputed the Israelis' intentions. "The Palestinian Authority, in its strongest words, condemns this very well pre-planned and premeditated attempt against the lives of not only Col. Rajoub but in fact against other members of his family."

The statement called the shelling "a deplorable act and yet another proof of the hostile nature of the current Israeli government and its intentions toward the Palestinians and the peace process."