At least three Palestinians have been wounded in the Gaza Strip in what witnesses say was an Israeli attempt to kill a Palestinian militant.
Palestinian witnesses say a missile from an Israeli drone struck a car carrying a top member of the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella organization of militant factions. The apparent target of the attack, identified as Jamal Abu Samahdna, was reported among the wounded. Israel has not commented.
Last week, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would not launch attacks or raids in the Palestinian territories in the runup to January ninth Palestinian elections, as long as the Jewish state is not provoked.
In other developments, about 3,000 members of Mr. Sharon's minority Likud Party vote today on forming a new coalition government to advance plans for a proposed Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP.