Sgt. Yaacov Avni, 20, of Kiryat Ata was killed by Palestinian sniper fire in the Jenin refugee camp on Friday and a Golani company commander was seriously wounded there in clashes between soldiers and Palestinian gunmen. Avni, a sniper himself, was shot in the neck as he was taking up a position near a window; he was the second Israeli soldier killed during operations in Jenin and in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus.

The IDF withdrew from the Jenin camp but continued operations in Balata on Saturday. Military sources said that a number of wanted terrorists were captured and more than 20 terrorists were killed, including the leader of Hamas in Jenin, Haled Jamal Nazam. A large number of weapons were seized, and a factory manufacturing Kassam rockets and explosives was discovered in Balata and destroyed by the army.

Palestinians called for a "Day of Rage" Friday in response to the Israeli military operations in the camps. Arafat's Fatah faction threatened to fire Kassam rockets at Israeli cities. The Hamas vowed to carry out attacks within Israel. Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, in a heated televised statement, called for massive demonstrations after prayers Friday. He described Israeli actions in the refugee camps as a "massacre."

Two more Palestinians were reported killed in clashes Thursday night and early Friday morning, bringing the death toll to 15 since Wednesday night, when the Israel Defense Forces entered the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and, late Thursday, the Jenin refugee camp. More than 160 Palestinians have been reported wounded.

The Balata and Jenin refugee camps had become, according to Israeli security sources, a stronghold for terrorist activity against Israel. "Balata for years, especially in recent months, has been the womb of terrorist activities and the base for the making of weapons and bombs that have been used against and caused the deaths of innocent people," Col. Aviv Kochavi said at a press briefing Friday afternoon.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke by telephone Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and called on Israel to "show restraint" in its operations within the camps. Sharon reportedly told Powell, "The most important thing today is to end the terrorist activity. For as long as terrorism continues, Israel will continue to take every step necessary to protect its citizens and bring about an end to the terrorism."

In the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo, which came under heavy fire Thursday from Palestinians gunners in adjacent Beit Jala, residents of exposed areas were initially instructed to remain in their homes on Friday morning, and schools were canceled. Four Israelis were lightly to moderately injured in the attacks, and some 40 homes were damaged. Israeli troops returned fire. Later in the morning, the shooting had subsided, although sporadic gunfire continued. Officials announced late in the morning that resident could return to a "routine" state of readiness.

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