ALQUDS, MAY 26, SPA -- Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli security patrol in east Jerusalem late Saturday, injuring two, police said according to The Associated Press. Israeli border police at the scene fired at the attackers, killing both of them. Israeli emergency services said two Israelis were injured and evacuated to hospital, one of whom was in serious condition. The shooting took place in the east Alquds neighborhood of Sheik Said, near the separation barrier Israel is erecting along Al-Quds's municipal boundary. The separation barrier is being built to shield the city from suicide bombers and has cut east ALQuds from the West Bank. It is regularly guarded by security forces. An offshoot of the violent Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, which is affiliated with the Fatah Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, claimed responsibility for the shooting attack, according to the Palestinian news web site Maan. Palestinian militant groups have threatened to attack Israel in response to violence in the Gaza Strip. Since last week, dozens of targeted missile strikes have killed 48 Palestinians and damaged many Hamas installations. Israel's offensive is aimed at halting Hamas rocket fire from Gaza at Israeli border towns. On Saturday, Hamas called on militants to «direct painful strikes at the Zionist enemy.» Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a joint patrol of Israeli border police and civilian guards along the barrier. Israeli TV reported that the patrol was ambushed by the Palestinian shooters. Israeli rescue services said one of the security men, a 26-year-old man, was shot in the chest and was in serious condition. The other was hit in the limbs and was in moderate condition. Israeli rescue services said both were taken to hospital. Police said that in the exchange of fire between security forces and the gunmen, a Palestinian bystander was hit and was in critical condition. He was being treated by Israeli rescue services on the scene. Since the Palestinian violent uprising began in 2000, Jerusalem has been targeted by dozens of shooting attacks and suicide bombing that have killed hundreds. But violence has dropped sharply in recent years _ there has been no bombing in the past 2 1/2 years and shooting attacks have become very rare.
