Three die in Gaza settlement gun battle

Israeli troops exchanged fire with Palestinians near an Gaza Strip Jewish settlement today – killing three gunmen.

Several armed Palestinians were spotted by troops near the settlement of Netzarim in Gaza, the army said.

The Palestinians opened fire, drawing return fire from Israeli soldiers who killed at least one of the Palestinians, the army said.

Palestinian security officials reported three Palestinians were killed in the gun battle.

In the West Bank, army jeeps briefly entered the towns of Jenin and Tulkarem, but made no arrests, Palestinian security officials said.

The fighting came a day after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud Party set April 29 as the date for a vote on the hotly contested plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

The referendum among 200,000 Likud members is to be followed within days by votes in the Cabinet and in parliament.

Sharon is taking a gamble since approval is far from assured. If he loses the referendum, there would be growing pressure on him to resign.

The prime minister was flying to Washington today where he will meet President George Bush to seek backing for the Gaza withdrawal plan.

Before leaving, Sharon said his plan would help Israel’s security, improve its standing in the international community, boost the economy and lift peace efforts. ”There is no doubt that this plan opens a way in the future for a process of peace,” he said.