BETHLEHEM, Oct 20: Israeli troops moved into two more West Bank cities and killed eight Palestinian fighters and civilians on Saturday in the largest land strike on Palestinian areas in a year of conflict.

Israelis also fired two missiles at a building in Bethlehem where Palestinian snipers were stationed and injured 10 people.

Two helicopter gunships joined tanks in taking aim at the spot, in the center of Bethlehem, bordering the Beit Jala neighbourhood from where snipers frequently fire on the Jewish settlement of Gilo.

The Israeli army said its raids into most of the West Bank’s Palestinian-ruled cities this week had been mounted “because the Palestinian Authority has not fought to thwart terror activities from its territories”.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of putting the ruling Authority in its sights and obstructing efforts to revive the Middle East peace process which the United States sees as crucial to maintain Arab support for its war against terrorism.

Israeli troops battled Palestinians as the army’s armoured vehicles pushed several hundred metres into the cities of Tulkarm and Qalqilya.—Reuters