Four Israel Defense Forces soldiers were wounded last night when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on their jeep near the settlement of Eshkolot, southwest of Hebron.

Two of the soldiers are said to be in moderate-to-serious condition at Soroka Medical Center in Be´er Sheva, while the two others were lightly wounded.

At about 9 P.M., Palestinian militants opened fire on soldiers from a passing car and fled the scene. The soldiers were wearing bulletproof vests and helmets, but their vehicle was not armored.

A preliminary probe into the incident shows that two Palestinians were waiting in ambush for the jeep and opened fire on it as it drove by. Eight shells hit the vehicle. The shooters fled on foot, leaving two magazines and a Palestinian flag behind. They were picked up by a car not far from the site.

According to Palestinian sources, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs´ Brigades, linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas´ Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The IDF has imposed a closure on the nearby town of Dahariya.

The attack came hours after Israel approved a troop pullback from West Bank cities and the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners as confidence-building gestures ahead of a meeting next week in Egypt between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas. (© Copyright 2005 Haaretz. 02/04/05)