Israeli armored forces occupy Hebron

JERUSALEM Israeli tanks and armored vehicles rolled into Hebron on Thursday evening, the last major West Bank city to be occupied, even as President George W. Bush called on Israel to withdraw its forces from all occupied areas.

Palestinians said the army had faced only light resistance in Hebron as dozens of tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps backed by helicopter gunships spread out across the city, but one Israeli officer was killed during a gun battle.

Witnesses reported heavy fighting in other parts of the West Bank, including the northern city of Jenin, where Israeli soldiers were searching house to house for weapons and wanted men. Three Palestinians and two Israelis were killed.

Guerrilla fighters in Lebanon fired nine rockets across the border into Israel, the eighth cross-border attack since March 12. This one caused no injuries or significant damage, but the Israeli defense minister warned that Israel would not refrain from retaliating much longer.