Israel searches for militants in one Palestinian refugee camp; leaves another

BALATA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) -- Israeli troops searched house-to-house for militants and weapons for a third day Saturday in the densely packed Balata refugee camp, while soldiers pulled out of a second camp nearby.

The Israeli forces left the Jenin refugee camp on the outskirts of Jenin city in the West Bank, but 20 miles to the south, they carried on with their operation in the Balata camp on the edge of Nablus, Palestinian security officials and the Israeli army said.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat condemned the Israeli incursions, which began Thursday, and called for the United States and Europe to press Israel to halt the operations.

"They have to understand that all these crimes against our people cannot force our people to give," Arafat told reporters Friday.

Palestinians said 20 Palestinians -- including gunmen, policemen and civilians -- had been killed in fighting since Thursday as Israel made its first move into Palestinian refugee camps during the 17 months of Mideast fighting.

The Israeli army said in a statement that about 30 gunmen and police had been killed and some 200 people wounded. Two Israeli soldiers were also killed, the army said. It made no mention of civilian deaths.