Xinhuanet 2002-11-10 23:52:39

　　JERUSALEM, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Two Palestinian suicide bombers killed themselves in a premature car explosion near a checkpoint inthe West Bank. The blast caused no other casualties, according to Israel Army Radio.

　　The explosion occurred after Israeli border police stopped the suspicious car carrying the Palestinians who were transporting an explosive belt and a large bomb near the checkpoint to Kibbutz Mezer, north of the West Bank city of Tul Karm.

　　Also on Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) pulled back to the outskirts of Jenin, two weeks after the troops swept into the West Bank city in search of suicide bombing suspects.

　　In another incident, a senior Islamic Jihad activist in Jenin, Iyad Sawalhe, 28, who topped Israel's most-wanted list, was killed in a gun battle with IDF troops Saturday afternoon, after the soldiers entered his home to arrest him.

　　Three Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the exchange of fire.

　　The army said that with his death, the majority of the IDF's goals in the Jenin operation had been achieved.

　　According to Israel Radio, some 200 Palestinians were arrested in the operation. Enditem

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2002