Attack shatters lull in Mideast violence

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The lull in violence in the Middle East was shattered Wednesday when two Palestinian gunmen cut through a security fence at an Israeli army post and opened fire, killing four Israelis before being slain themselves, the army said.

Three Israeli soldiers and one officer were killed. The Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack on the fortified Israeli army post at Kerem Shalom, in Israel, close to the convergence of the borders of Israel, Gaza and Egypt.

Hamas had announced on December 21 that it would suspend suicide attacks inside Israel after Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat called for a halt to violence -- prompted by a series of deadly bombings on Israeli civilians in early December.

At the time, the Israeli government dismissed the Hamas announcement -- calling it a "mixed message" -- and said Hamas remained a serious threat.

Hamas is an Islamic fundamentalist group whose military wing, Izzedine al Quassam, has carried out military and terrorist operations against Israelis.

Palestinian sources said early Thursday that Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered the town of Rafah in southern Gaza and destroyed two homes.

MORE STORIES • U.S.: 'Compelling evidence' Arafat knew of arms    EXTRA INFORMATION • Map of Kerem Shalom  • In-Depth: Mideast Struggle for Peace

The sources said the vehicles were about 50 meters inside the city and that no resistance to them had been shown. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces had no comment.

Earlier, according to Palestinian military sources, Israeli tanks and jeeps occupied a Palestinian military base in Rafah, an area usually under complete Palestinian control.

The base belongs to the Palestinian navy and is next to an Israeli army post. Palestinian forces evacuated the base earlier in the day. There were no reports of gunfire.

Israeli army bulldozers destroyed two Palestinian Security Forces positions near the site of the attack. The army said Palestinians there gave cover to the attackers.

Palestinian leadership condemns attack

The attack at Kerem Shalom shattered what Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said was the quietest week in 15 months of violence.

It comes on the heels of attempts by U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni to get Israelis and Palestinians to honor a meaningful cease-fire.

The Palestinian leadership immediately condemned the attack and said it would be "relentless" in enforcing Arafat's call for a cease-fire.

The leadership "adopted and is adopting measures against all those who play with our national security and our national interests," the Palestinian Authority said, adding it will seek those responsible.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "The terror attack today is a continuation of terror attacks which are carried out as result of the terror strategy that Arafat initiated. The attack was carried out by the terror coalition that Arafat created.

"We see the Palestinian Authority as totally responsible. In a few days ... the government will have to decide its policy regarding the Palestinian Authority."

Israeli Cabinet discusses attack

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the Palestinian gunmen crossed into Israel by cutting through a border fence, then opened fire with automatic weapons and tossed hand grenades.

The men were in Palestinian police uniforms, IDF officials said. Israeli Maj. Gen. Doron Almog told reporters at a briefing the men were carrying explosive belts, assault rifles and grenades.

The soldiers killed were all Israeli Arabs, members of the Bedouin tribe. The IDF identified three of the dead as Maj. Ashraf Hawash, 28, from the Zarzir village, Staff Sgt. Ibrahim Hameida, 23, from the village of Rehaniya, and Staff Sgt. Mofid Suad, 25, from the Abu-Snein village. The name of the fourth soldier killed was not released.

A previously planned meeting Wednesday of the Israeli Security Cabinet was being devoted to the implications of the attack.

Palestinian sources identified the attackers as Muhammad Abu Jamus and Imad Abu Rizek.

The latest violence came as tensions remained high over last week's seizure by Israel of a ship carrying 50 tons of weapons.

Israeli forces intercepted the ship, the Karine-A, last Thursday in the Red Sea about 300 miles south of the Israeli port of Eilat. Israel said the Palestinian Authority was behind the arms shipment and the weapons were destined for Palestinians.

A U.S. State Department official told CNN Wednesday that Israelis have presented what the Bush administration believes is "compelling evidence" that Arafat knew about the shipment.