Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian intelligence officer and two other men during separate raids in the West Bank town of Jenin and a nearby village today, Palestinian security officials said.

HAMAS said yesterday that the Islamic militant group would not renew an informal nine-month-old truce after Israel killed one of its leading activists in an airstrike.

Israel’s prime minister Ariel Sharon lashed out against terrorism and praised the world for taking on Syria and Iran, as rebels in his own party continued moves to force him out of office.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has demanded Palestinian action against terror, singled out Syria and Iran as its sponsors and – referring to recent UN actions – said the international community is standing up to “extremist countries” for the first time.

Israeli forces have killed three Palestinian militants in a West Bank raid linked to a suicide bombing attack. The incident threatened to scuttle a fresh truce and fuel a new round of violence.