In violation of the cease-fire and the Tenet work plan, three Palestinians were assassinated last night near the West Bank City of Jenin.

The three Palestinians assassinated are Mohammed Ahmad Bisharat 28, Walid Sadiq Bisharat both are from Tamoun near Jenin, and Sameh Nur Zeeb, 22 from Beit Dajan in the Nablus District. They were driving their car on the way home when Israeli occupation forces hit them with rockets from an Apache helicopter. Eyewitnesses say the Apache helicopters fired nearly ten missiles in the attack.

Commenting on the overnight attack President Yasser Arafat said, “This was a flagrant violation of the cease-fire. It is an ugly crime against our citizens."

Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the operation, but the Israeli army claims that one of the three men is described as “one of the most senior terrorists” in the West Bank.

Advisor to President Yasser Arafat, Mr. Nabil Abu Rdeineh said: “If Israel continues its assassination policy against Palestinian activists, the whole cease-fire agreement will be in danger”

Meanwhile Colonel Jibril Rajoub, head of the preventive security in the West Bank said: “This is a crime and state terror against civilian targets, and a proof that Israel’s cease-fire is only theoretical and for media purposes. But realistically Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people is non-stop.”

“This aggression” he continues ”should awaken the international society and the American administration to pressure the Israeli government to stop the aggression. Such aggression cannot continue while the international community remains silent.”