Special report: New violence between Israel, Palestine

    

An undated picture of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, 19, released by his family June 25, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

BEIJING, June 26 -- The Israeli military says Hamas militants have kidnapped one Israeli soldier in southern Israel.

    The military says two Israeli soldiers were also killed in the attack on Sunday.

    Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz has issued a direct threat against the militants holding the Israeli hostage.

    "We will do all to rescue the hostage and have warned the militants that they will pay a painful price for the attack." Peretz said.

    Militant groups often use captured Israeli soldiers, dead or alive, as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

    The soldier is the first seized by Palestinian militants in nearly 12 years.

    The incident has raised the threat of an all-out conflict in Gaza just a year after Israel's pullout.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)