The Israeli army says troops raided the West Bank town of Jenin Monday, arresting eight militants suspected of involvement in making crude rockets and mortars.

The army says the detained men are members of the Islamic Jihad militant group.

It says one soldier was slightly wounded during the operation.

On Sunday, Israel delayed handing over the town of Qalqilya to Palestinian security control, saying the Palestinians have failed to move against militants in Jericho and Tulkarem - the two towns already transferred to them.

Qalqilya is the third of five West Bank towns Israel is to hand over to Palestinian security control under an agreement the two sides reached last month.

There is no word on when the remaining two towns - Jenin and Ramallah - will be transferred.