4 Palestinians killed in clash with Israelis

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza militants with explosives-laden horses approached the Israeli border early Monday, igniting a battle that left four gunmen dead, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

The incident marked a serious flare-up along the border, which has remained tense but relatively quiet since a three-week military offensive in January.

The clash came a day before President Barack Obama’s envoy, George Mitchell, was expected in Israel for talks. The visit follows Obama’s call in his Cairo speech last week for a halt to construction in Israeli settlements and endorsement of the creation of a Palestinian state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not accepted either point. He has a major speech set for Sunday to spell out his policy.

During a stop Monday in Norway, Mitchell said Obama wants a quick resumption of peace talks. “He has directed me to exert all effort to try to create a circumstance in which the parties can begin immediate discussion,” Mitchell said.

Late Monday, Netanyahu and Obama talked over the telephone and discussed the Sunday speech, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office. No other details were given.

Commenting on the Gaza clash, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the army prevented a “severe attack” and said the militants might have planned to capture an Israeli soldier.

The Israeli military said the Palestinian fighters approached the border fence between Israel and the Hamas-controlled territory with a number of trucks carrying five horses. The militants were planting bombs along the fence when they were spotted and fired on by Israeli infantrymen. The Israelis also employed tanks and helicopter gunships, the military said.

The carcass of one horse was visible at the scene, along with the charred remains of three trucks.

Gaza is enclosed by a security fence. The attack occurred near Nahal Oz, a crossing used to ship fuel into Gaza and a target of past attacks.