GAZA, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Khaled al-Batsh, a senior official of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), on Sunday vowed to avenge an Israeli killing of its militant near the West Bank city of Jenin.

    Al-Batsh told Xinhua that assassination of Nihad Abu Ghanem in Burqin village near Jenin was considered an Israeli escalation against the Palestinians.

    He warned that Israeli military actions in the West Bank will deal a heavy blow to calmness.

    Palestinian security sources and witnesses said earlier that anIsraeli army special unit shot dead a Palestinian militant as it stormed Burqin village.

    Ghanem, 27, was a member of Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing ofthe Islamic Jihad. Enditem