Israeli troops divides Gaza Strip into two

The Israeli move came after two bombs were detonated early Friday morning, one on the road between the Karni checkpoint at the eastern end of the strip and the Netzarim settlement, and another directed at soldiers patrolling near an Israeli settlement.

The only casualty was an Israeli army tracker, who was lightly wounded. Palestinians also fired mortars on Thursday night at two Israeli settlements in the north of the Strip, but failed to cause any casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, in a related development almost certain to raise the already high tension between the sides, the director-general of Israel's national water carrier said the company does not have enough water to supply the needs of the Palestinian towns of Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin. Israel Radio reported he told President Moshe Katzav, that due to the low water levels ion the southern West Bank the wells are dry and he feared a hydrological problem would become a political one. The report did not say what the situation was regarding the supply of water to nearby Israeli settlements.

(dpa)