Israeli troops yesterday shot dead a top Islamic Jihad commander in the occupied West Bank, the most senior Palestinian militant killed since the start of an eight-month-old ceasefire.

Islamic Jihad vowed "blood for blood" and suggested the truce could be on the verge of collapse after Israel's killing of Loai Assadi, accused of masterminding suicide bombings that killed 10 Israelis since the truce was declared in February.

The army said soldiers raiding the town of Tulkarm targeted Assadi and another militant, Majed al-Ashkar, killed on Sunday, because they had been planning further attacks. The inside of a house was found spattered with blood after a fierce gun battle.

It was the latest flare-up of violence threatening to unravel a frayed ceasefire and undermining hopes that Israel's Gaza pullout last month could revive peacemaking.

On the diplomatic front, international envoy James Wolfensohn criticized Israel for delaying agreements to open Gaza Strip border crossings following its withdrawal and said that could hinder a Palestinian economic revival essential to peace.

Policy shift on Palestinian vote

Israel does not plan to hamper upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections even if Hamas Islamic militants take part, Israeli officials said on Sunday in an apparent shift from earlier threats.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last month that Israel could hinder voting in the occupied West Bank if the elections were contested by Hamas, which is sworn to destroying Israel and has spearheaded a Palestinian uprising.

"Israel will not help the Palestinians if Hamas takes part, but neither will it hamper the voting in areas where Israel has control," an official in Sharon's office said.

The apparent change followed a White House meeting last week between US President George W. Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who wants to bring Hamas nearer the political mainstream. An administration official said the US still saw Hamas as a terrorist group but it was up to the Palestinians to decide who could take part in the election.

(China Daily October 25, 2005)