Romanian killed in the West Bank

A Romanian truck driver was shot dead in the West Bank today in the first violent incident since Palestinian militants pledged to halt their attacks.

The shooting, which came less than a day after the truce was announced, was claimed by the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, a militia linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s mainstream Fatah movement.

Elsewhere, Israeli and Palestinian commanders shook hands as Israeli forces pulled out of northern Gaza Strip as part of a US-backed peace plan that aims to end 33 months of fighting.

Israeli troops are also to be withdrawn from the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to meet his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem tomorrow for further talks about Washington’s road map to peace and a Palestinian state by 2005.

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice held talks over the weekend with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Even before the Al Aqsa shooting today, both sides were sceptical about whether the militants’ ceasefire deal would hold.

Fatah had announced a six month truce, while the violent Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups had announced a three month ceasefire yesterday.

Israeli officials have claimed it is a tactic by the violent groups to regroup and plan more attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians.

They have demanded Abbas dismantle the groups completely.