Suicide bomber strikes in Israel

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up today near a group of Israeli border police.

None of the police was hurt, authorities said.

The bomber died, police spokesman Gil Kleiman said.

The explosion took place just inside Israel, near the Israeli Arab village of Marja, which is close to the border with the West Bank, he said.

The border police were suspicious of the man as he approached, he added.

As they drove over to check him he triggered the explosives he was carrying, damaging the police patrol vehicle but causing no injuries to the officers.

The incident occurred a day after Israel began building a controversial fence along the same part of the border, aimed at stopping suicide bombers from entering Israel.