Israeli helicopter gunships destroyed a metal-working factory in the Gaza Strip on Friday in apparent retaliation for Palestinian attacks that wrecked an Israeli tank and killed two soldiers.Missiles slammed into the foundry in the Khan Younis refugee camp hours after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who declared this week that conditions were ripe for a possible peace breakthrough, vowed to keep up the fight against ‘‘terror’’ groups.In the West Bank city of Jenin, two Palestinian militants were found shot to death in the street in the early morning.Palestinian witnesses said Israeli soldiers had raided their hideout and shot Kamal Silawi of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and another militant, Samir Qandil. The Army had no immediate comment.The Army also blocked two main junctions in the Gaza Strip to Palestinian traffic, effectively dividing the area into three separate zones, a measure it has taken in the past after deadly attacks on its soldiers. Sharon spoke on Thursday after Israeli police, on heightened alert on the eve of the Jewish New Year holiday, thwarted an attempt to smuggle a 600-kg car bomb — one of the largest ever discovered — from the West Bank into Israel.The Army said the foundry was targeted ‘‘because it was used by a terror group to make ammunition.’’ The owner, Abu Khalil, denied the allegation, saying his workers built parts for electric generators.Witnesses said helicopters fired three missiles at the small factory, caving in the roof. The building was empty of workers at the time and no casualties were reported.The Air strike followed twin assaults by Palestinian militants. A bomb planted on a dirt road in the central Gaza Strip exploded next to an Israeli Merkava-3 tank, one of the world’s most advanced armoured vehicles, blowing off the turret and burning one crew member to death. (Reuters)
