Israel mounts tight security for holiday

Extra police and soldiers were today patrolling cities and holiday spots on Israel’s Independence Day, a day after four Palestinian police officers died in a bomb blast in Gaza.

The bomb exploded near Rafah on the Egyptian border, but the circumstances were unclear. Palestinian police commander Ghazi Jibali said Palestinians working for Israeli intelligence planted three bombs, and police defused two, but the third exploded. Four police officers died and six other people were wounded, hospital officials said.