Palestinian youths run as an Israeli stun grenade explodes during clashes in the West Bank village of Bani Zaid near Ramallah, January 12, 2005. Israeli soldiers shot dead two wanted militants in its first raid since the vote for a successor to Yasser Arafat. At the urging of U.S.-led mediators, Israel had suspended military action against militants to safeguard the election. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

Palestinian youths hurl stones at an Israeli army tractor during an army operation in the West Bank village of Idna.(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

A Palestinian youth is arrested by Israeli forces during clashes in the West Bank village of Bani Zaid near Ramallah January 12, 2005. Israeli soldiers shot dead two wanted militants in its first raid since the vote for a successor to Yasser Arafat. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

An Israeli military vehicle combs the area near the southern Gaza Strip Jewish settlement of Morag following an attack by Palestinian militants. One settler and two members of the hardline Islamic Jihad organisation were killed in the attack on the isolated settlement. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

   GAZA/RAMALLAH, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Four Palestinian militants were killed in two separate incidents by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, medics said.

   They said that Israeli troops on Wednesday morning killed two Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qarwat Beni Zed northwest of Ramallah.

   Israel Radio reported that the Israeli army killed two Palestinian militants, members of Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, adding that there was a gunbattle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants.

   Meanwhile, two militants from the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) were killed as they infiltrated into the Jewish settlement of Morag near the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Palestinian security sources said.

   The group said in a leaflet that two militants broke into the settlement, one blew himself up near an Israeli army jeep and the other was killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers.

   Israel Radio said that one Israeli civilian was killed and three soldiers wounded in the attack.

   In addition, five Palestinians were detained at predawn Wednesday when several armored vehicles, backed by helicopters, raided southern Gaza City near the Jewish settlement of Nitzarim.

   The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been renewed since Sunday's Palestinian presidential election, overshadowing the prospect of efforts to resume peace talks between the two sides.  Enditem