JENIN, Sept 6: Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in the West Bank on Friday after a day of violence in the Gaza Strip in which Palestinians destroyed a tank and killed two soldiers.

The bodies of the two Palestinians were found in the street in the West Bank city of Jenin as Israeli newspapers warned of possible “mega-attacks” in Israeli cities on the eve of Jewish New Year.

Police were on high alert a day after thwarting an attempt to smuggle a 600-kg car bomb from the West Bank into Israel.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Army Radio the car bomb “without a doubt, could have caused the heaviest of disasters”.

In a separate interview with Israel’s Maariv newspaper, Sharon signalled there could be no return in any future peace process with the Palestinians to interim deals that led to the establishment of self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

“Oslo no longer exists. Camp David no longer exists, nor does Taba,” he said, referring to past negotiating venues.

Palestinian cabinet minister and peace negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sharon’s remarks were indicative of what he called a plan by the right-wing Israeli leader to destroy the Palestinian Authority.

“Sharon has told the world today that he is seeking to replace negotiations with dictates that are imposed by his tanks, and the war crimes that his troops are carrying out against the Palestinians,” Erekat said.

The fresh bloodshed also cast further doubt on the “Gaza-Bethlehem First” deal reached nearly three weeks ago in which Israel was to ease its military clampdown if Palestinian police reined in militants.—Reuters