After tentative steps toward peace, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militiaman in a West Bank arrest raid yesterday, and the two sides became embroiled in a war of words over who won the 33-month conflict.

　　In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces temporarily closed an important junction after rockets were fired at a Jewish settlement, casting a shadow over a handover of territory to Palestinians.

　　Early yesterday, Israeli troops killed a local leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militia linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah section, when an arrest turned violent in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, the army said.

　　The man killed was identified as Mahmoud Shawer, an assistant to Ibrahim Mansour, the Brigades' leader in Qalqiliya, who was arrested.

　　The army said both men were armed and that one was killed when he tried to flee. Palestinian sources said Shawer was only wounded in the leg during the escape attempt, but when troops withdrew, he was found dead with gunshot wounds to the head.

　　The incident raised fears for a temporary cease-fire declared on Sunday by the three main Palestinian groups in an important boost to the "road map" peace plan launched by US President George W. Bush at a June 4 Mideast summit.

　　The militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups suspended attacks for three months, while Fatah announced a six-month truce. However, renegade fighters from the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigades and a number of smaller factions have rejected the cease-fire, and have carried out a number of shootings.

　　About 30 gunmen from Al Aqsa and another armedsgroupswere among thousands marching in Shawer's funeral. A speaker from the militia promised revenge within 24 hours. One of Shawer's sons, about 8 or 9 years old, was hoisted on the shoulders of one of the marchers and handed an Uzi submachine gun. The boy fired in the air, with adults helping him hold up the heavy weapon.

　　A senior Arafat aide, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, called Shawer's killing an "assassination" and accused Israel of trying "to bring us back to the cycle of action and reaction."

　　Israeli officials said they have a right to defend their citizens if Palestinians refuse to dismantle violent groups as required by the "road map." "Until they do, Israel has every right to take defensive measures on behalf of its citizens," said Dore Gold, an Israeli government spokesman.

　　Palestinian officials fear a crackdown could trigger a civil war. Preferring persuasion, they helped broker the cease-fire.

　　After the truce announcement, Israeli forces began the pullbacks and the two sides' prime ministers met at an upbeat summitswheresthey recommitted them-selves to the road map peace plan.