One Israeli was killed, Palestinian gunmen injured at least 35 others in a shooting attack Tuesday noon in Israel's northern city of Afula, Israel TV Channel One reported.
The shooting attack occurred near the city's central bus station, which is some 10 minutes drive north of the Palestinian-controlled West Bank town of Jenin.
Two gunmen were reportedly killed by police in the wake of the attack. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.
All of the injured have been taken to nearby hospital for treatment. According to hospital sources, seven persons among the injured are in serious condition.
The shooting incident took place just at the beginning of the US diplomatic mediation in the region by two special envoys, who arrived in Israel on Monday to have talks with both Israelis and Palestinians on ways to end violence and restart peace talks.
Israel completed Tuesday morning troop withdrawal from Jenin, which was reoccupied by the Israeli army together with five other Palestinian cities in the West Bank following the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister last month.
Israeli security establishments regard Jenin as a major "greenhouse for terrorism," in which Palestinian extremist groups, such as the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), have great influence.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2001)
