Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations　

    RAMALLAH, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday arrested eight Palestinians in various places in West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinian security sources said.

    The detentions took place in Jenin, Ramallah and Jerusalem. The detainees were taken from their homes by Israeli soldiers who raided and searched their houses.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli army tightened control on roads linking West Bank cities, installing new checkpoints and carefully checking Palestinian travelers' identity cards, according to the sources.

    The reinforcement of security measures came as Israel preparers to receive world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush, for events marking its 60th anniversary.

    In Gaza Strip, the Israeli troops rolled into the eastern parts of Khan Younis city and bulldozers destroyed crops at several fields before withdrawing early in the morning.

    In return, Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for firing two homemade rockets at Ashkelon city in southern Israel.

    In a statement sent to the press, the Islamic Jihad's military wing said the shelling was in response to the "Israeli crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank."