Israeli troops remain in Beit Jala

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Shooting and occasional mortar fire persisted in the West Bank on Tuesday as Israeli troops remained in strategic positions in the town of Beit Jala for a second night.

Palestinian authorities said Israel also moved troops into the Aida refugee camp on the West Bank and the town of Deir al-Balah, in Gaza, provoking more gun battles late Tuesday.

At Aida, the troops reportedly began to withdraw after moving about 150 meters into the camp, Palestinian Preventive Security officials said. There were no injuries reported.

The Israel Defense Forces denied any move into Aida, saying its troops came under fire near Rachel's Tomb and fired back but did not enter the camp.

Israeli tanks and troops took up positions in houses and observation points around Beit Jala in an attempt to stop Palestinian gunfire aimed at Gilo, a disputed Jerusalem suburb. One Palestinian policeman was killed in the operation.

VIDEO The killing by Israel of a Palestinian leader is generating anger and distrust toward the U.S. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports (August 28) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Ben Wedeman says the Israeli move was anticipated by Palestinian forces (August 27) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Amid continuing violence, Israelis and Palestinians are resolute about their aims. CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports (August 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Palestinians say Israel's tactics may provoke extremists. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports (August 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Mideast Struggle for Peace     RESOURCES • Profile: Mustafa Zabri   • Message Board: Mideast peace

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian officials were in contact Tuesday over a proposal to halt the firing and allow Israeli troops to leave, Israeli media reported.

Government spokesman Avi Pazner said Israeli troops would stay in Beit Jala until their mission to "clean up" the town was accomplished, but he said Israel did not intend to occupy the area permanently.

Israel Radio quoted Palestinian Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo as saying the Israeli move into Beit Jala could lead to "a regional war."

Israeli military officials said the move was prompted by several hours of gunfire aimed at Gilo on Monday night. Dore Gold, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, called Beit Jala a "snipers' nest" from which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Tanzim gunmen were firing "into Israel's capital Jerusalem over the last 10 months."

Gilo was built on land captured by Israel in 1967, and Israelis consider it a southern suburb of Jerusalem. Palestinians consider it occupied West Bank territory.

Gunfire continued in the area and around the West Bank on Tuesday. Gilo also was the target of at least three mortar shells, one of which landed on an empty community center. There were no injuries reported.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States opposed the Israeli move into Beit Jala.

"The Israelis need to understand that incursions like this will not solve the security problems," Boucher said. "They only make matters worse. As a consequence, we believe the Israelis should withdraw their forces from this area."

Another Palestinian police officer was killed Tuesday morning near Hebron, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said. Palestinian sources said the man died in an exchange of gunfire in Dura, in the southern West Bank. The Red Crescent said five other security officers were injured, four of them critically.

The continued clashes came as more than 5,000 people attended the funeral in Ramallah of Mustafa Zibri, killed Monday in an Israeli missile attack. Mourners shouted, "Your blood will not be wasted."

Zibri, 63, was the secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and one of the top leaders in the Palestine Liberation Organization. Israeli officials held him responsible for at least eight car bombings: Government spokesman Raanan Gissin said the decision to kill Zibri was "pure self-defense."

But chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Sharon now considers "every Palestinian guilty until proven innocent."

Zibri was the highest profile political leader to die under Israel's policy of tracking and killing people it considers terrorists who have carried out or may carry out attacks on Israelis.

One of the men considered a possible successor to Zibri as leader of the PFLP, Maher Al-Taher, said Tuesday that Palestinians should strike Israeli and American targets.

"Israel will pay a high price," Taher was quoted as saying, "We call on the Arab nation to hit the interests of the Americans."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer met with Israeli President Moshe Katsav after the attack. Israel Radio said Kurtzer told Katsav that Israeli incursions into Palestinian territory as well as Israel's policy of targeted killings "don't help."

And Israeli opposition leader Yossi Sarid on Tuesday called on Peres to quit the Sharon government, Israel Radio reported. There were reports that Peres was not consulted when the decision was made to kill Zibri and was told about -- but not given a chance to object to -- the incursion into Beit Jala.