Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin this afternoon issued orders to the IDF to begin a gradual withdrawal from the West Bank city of Ramallah. Sharon expressed satisfaction with the results of the army's operations, and "expressed the hope that the results of the activity would aid the diplomatic effort to secure a complete cease-fire."

According to a statement issued by Ben-Eliezer, "the orders were given in the wake of an extensive assessment of the situation… which led to the conclusion that the IDF action within the city had achieved its ends." Media analysts questioned the success of the Ramallah operation, as the army did not arrest a large number of wanted terrorists there. The withdrawal was apparently a gesture to U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni, who arrived in Israel today in an attempt to mediate a cease-fire.

Three soldiers killed in Netzarim blast
Three Israeli soldiers were killed and two others were wounded lightly to moderately this morning when a large explosive device detonated under their Merkava tank as a convoy of Israeli civilian and military vehicles was traveling on the Karni-Netzarim road in the Gaza Strip.

The bomb or mine was apparently set off by remote control by terrorists hiding in a nearby mosque. In mid-February, an Israeli Merkava tank was completely destroyed in a similar attack.

	Sgt. Rotem Shani, 19, from Hod Hasharon.
	Sgt. Matan Biderman, 21, from Carmiel.

The Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and the Hamas jointly claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinian sources reported that an Israeli armored force advanced into the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp, apparently in an attempt to apprehend the terrorists who perpetrated the attack.

Gun battles continue in Ramallah
Palestinians reported that six people were killed in Ramallah overnight in gun battles with Israeli troops. A senior Palestinian Authority official said today that PA security forces have been ordered into battle against Israeli troops in the city. Palestinian forces under the command of Tawfik Tirawi, head of Palestinian Intelligence in the West Bank, were reportedly directing the fighting in the city's A-Tira neighborhood, where Lt. Gil Badihi, 21, from Nataf, was killed yesterday morning by Palestinian gunfire.

Asked if an IDF withdrawal from Ramallah was imminent, Nahal Brigade Commander Yair Golan told Army Radio that no such orders had yet been received. "The goal of prevention (of terrorism) is one in which, the longer you stay in the field, the more achievements you can reach," he said.

The Israeli Defense Forces intensified their operations in the Bethlehem area overnight. Troops advanced to within a short distance of the Church of the Nativity and the town square. An IDF tank shell reportedly slammed into a church in the town, and shrapnel partially destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary. The army said it was checking the report.

The IDF also tightened closures on Tulkarm and Kalkilya due to security alerts of potential terrorist attacks. Additional blockades were imposed on all remaining West Bank cities Thursday, including Jericho, in response to terror alerts.

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