Mid-East attacks continue unabated
Much of Khan Yunis was reduced to rubble by the Israeli
attack
A Palestinian man has been killed and a seven-year-old girld injured after she was shot in the face in another day of sporadic violence in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli tanks fired shells into two locations, one in the West Bank, one in Gaza, after three of their soldiers were injured by Palestinian gunfire.
The violence comes after Israeli and Palestinian security officials met to discuss how to reduce the violence.
Grim routine
Three Israeli soldiers were wounded by Palestinian gunfire - the Israelis responded in Gaza and in the West Bank by firing tank shells.
The heaviest fighting was in the south of the Gaza Strip, near Rafa.
The BBC's Hilary Andersson in Jerusalem says all this now a fairly regular, if grim, routine.
A 35-year-old Palestinian man died after he was shot in the stomach near the Khan Younis Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza, the site of the worst of Wednesday's clashes.
Two people he was with were injured.
Near Bethlehem, in the West Bank, two children were hit by Israeli rubber-coated bullets after groups of youths began throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers nearby. One, a seven-year-old girl, was hit in the face.
Hilary Andersson says the Israeli army has no explanation for either of these incidents.
Security talks
The violence comes after US-sponsored security talks between Israeli and Palestinian security officials aimed at curbing the latest violence ended with a promise to meet again on Monday.
Speaking afterwards, the Gaza security chief, Amin al-Hindi, said Israel had promised to ease restrictions on the Palestinians, but did not give details.
There was no comment from the Israeli delegation, which included Avi Dichter, head of the internal security service, Shin Beth.
Earlier the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended Israel in the Palestinian territories and said the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, appeared to be "softening" his position.
The remarks come in interviews with two Israeli newspapers published on Thursday.
They followed heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Two Palestinians were killed and at least 25 injured in a fierce gun battle at the Khan Yunis Palestinian refugee camp after Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered there.
In an interview with Maariv, Mr Sharon defended Israeli action in the Palestinian-controlled territories, known as "Area A".
"All those who carry out terrorist actions, help them or support them, must know they cannot live in peace even if they are in Area A," he said.
Arafat 'softening'
In a separate interview, also published on Thursday, Mr Sharon said the position of Mr Arafat had changed.
In the interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, which was conducted last month, Mr Sharon said: "There is movement in his position. He is beginning to soften".
"In my opinion it's possible to look forward with optimism," Mr Sharon said.
More than six months of conflict have left more
than 460 dead, among them 370-plus
Palestinians, about 70 Israeli Jews and about
20 Arab Israelis.
-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001