Israel kills 2 Palestinians in West Bank

JENIN, West Bank, Oct 17 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian gunman and a civilian today during a raid to arrest suspected militants in the northern West Bank, Palestinian officials said.

Thirteen other people were wounded in the fighting near the West Bank town of Jenin, where troops killed an 18-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad militant group, and later, a civilian, said the officials. Five gunmen were arrested.

An Israeli army spokesman said soldiers had shot an armed man in the village of Qabatiyah, near Jenin, after gunmen opened fire and threw explosive devices at the troops. He had no immediate comment on the second fatality.

Soldiers also arrested seven Palestinians in raids throughout the West Bank, a military statement said.

The violence came as Israel stepped up military action against militants firing rockets at Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip, in raids that have killed 21 Palestinian, mostly gunmen, since Thursday.

REUTERS BDP BS1544