Israel retakes Bethlehem

Israeli troops reoccupied Bethlehem early Friday, searching homes and deploying tanks outside the Church of the Nativity in retaliation for the Jerusalem bus bomb that killed 11, including four youngsters.

With troops back in Bethlehem, Israel was again in control of all Palestinian population centres in the West Bank except for the quiet oasis of Jericho - mirroring the massive deployment that capped military offensives in April and June.