Palestinian mortar shell kills Israeli man

By YANIV ZOHAR Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Palestinian militants fired four mortar shells at Israel from the Gaza Strip late Friday, killing an Israeli man and wounding three other people, police and rescue officials said.

The radio station of Gaza's ruling Hamas movement said the group was responsible for the mortar fire on the southern Israeli community of Kfar Aza.

"Hamas is clearly in control of the Gaza Strip and responsible for all hostile fire into Israel. We hold it accountable for today's attack and the murder of our civilians," said David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman.

In separate clashes with Israeli settlers Friday, a Palestinian man was shot dead north of the West Bank town of Ramallah, according to Palestinian witnesses.

The Israeli military confirmed a shooting involving settlers and a Palestinian man, but had no further details.

According to Israeli media, settlers said the Palestinian man fired at them and they returned fire. Palestinian villagers said he apparently was hunting when the settlers killed him.

The military said Palestinian militants have fired 1,950 mortar shells and rockets at Israel since the beginning of the year - almost equal to the amount fired in all of 2007.

The attacks often provoke Israeli retaliation, though the two sides have been trying in recent weeks to reach a truce with Egyptian mediation.

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing, said the attack that killed the 40-year old Israeli man targeted a military position. Asked if the deadly attack would make it more difficult to agree to a truce, he replied, "We will continue to fire until the last moment" before a truce is completed.