Israeli forces rolled into Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza early today (Monday), hours after the Israeli security cabinet met to consider how to respond to attacks that have killed 22 Israelis since Saturday.

Palestinian officials say a leader (Amjad Fakhuri) of the militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was killed by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin in the West Bank after heavy fighting broke out. The group, which is an offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization, has claimed responsibility for a sniper attack Sunday and a suicide bombing Saturday.

The two attacks killed a total of 20 Israelis. The group had promised to avenge earlier Israeli raids on refugee camps.

The Israeli army said it entered Jenin today searching for weapons and members of militant groups.

In Gaza, three Palestinians were killed in gunbattles when Israeli troops entered the Rafah refugee camp. The Israeli military says the troops were searching for tunnels used to smuggle arms across the border from Egypt. A number of buildings were destroyed before the forces withdrew after several hours.

After the Israeli security cabinet met late Sunday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office issued a brief statement saying ministers had agreed to use constant military pressure to put an end to terrorist activities.

At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops in refugee camps since Thursday.

Sunday, a Palestinian sniper firing from a hillside killed seven Israeli soldiers and three Jewish settlers at an army checkpoint guarding the West Bank settlement of Ofra.

The death toll from Saturday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem rose to 10 today when another of the dozens of wounded died.

(AP,AFP,REUTERS,FBIS,PREV)

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