JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants killed three Israeli police officers on Sunday when they opened fire on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has carried out large-scale raids in recent days.
The attack took place along a road in the southern West Bank. The raids have mainly been focused on urban refugee camps in the northern part of the territory, where Israeli forces have traded fire with militants on a near-daily basis since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
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JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants killed three Israeli police officers on Sunday when they opened fire on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has carried out large-scale raids in recent days.
An Israeli bulldozer moves on a damaged street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
A Palestinian walks on a street damaged during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Palestinian walk on a street damaged during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A Palestinian walks on a damaged street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The police confirmed that all three killed were officers and said the assailants slipped away.
One of the officers killed was Roni Shakuri, 61, from the southern town of Sderot near the Gaza border, police said. His daughter, Mor, who was also a police officer, was killed in a battle with Hamas militants when they tried to take over the Sderot police station during the Oct. 7 attack.
A little-known militant group calling itself the Khalil al-Rahman Brigade claimed responsibility for the shooting on Sunday. Hamas praised the attack as a “natural response” to the war in Gaza and called for more.
Later Sunday, the military said Israeli forces encircled a home in the nearby city of Hebron where the suspected attacker was believed to be hiding. The army said it killed a militant at the scene, but gave no further details.
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there.
Over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, mainly during Israeli military arrest raids. Most appear to have been militants involved in gunbattles with Israeli forces, but civilian bystanders and rock-throwing protesters have also been killed.
The last 10 months have also seen an uptick in settler violence directed at Palestinians and in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but the last serious peace talks collapsed more than 15 years ago.
Israel has built well over 100 settlements across the West Bank, some of which resemble suburbs and small towns, Over 500,000 settlers with Israeli citizenship live in the settlements, which most of the international community considers illegal.
The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority exercising limited autonomy in population centers.
Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Palestinians stand in front a damaged shop as they walk on a destroyed street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
An Israeli bulldozer moves on a damaged street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
A Palestinian walks on a street damaged during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Palestinian walk on a street damaged during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A Palestinian walks on a damaged street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Israeli security forces and rescue services check the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Tarkumiya, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Israeli authorities said Palestinian gunmen killed a few Israelis in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in the territory in recent days. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Alison Lee sparked a shirtless caddie celebration by spinning a wedge into the cup for eagle. Andrea Lee holed a bunker shot to set up Rose Zhang’s walk-off eagle one hole later. And Megan Khang paused for 10 seconds to let gravity help her out on a critical birdie putt.
The wait was worth it for the United States, which maintained a four-point lead over Europe in the Solheim Cup on Saturday.
With top-ranked Nelly Korda getting an afternoon break after winning the leadoff point in three consecutive sessions of team matches, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis watched her role players excel, and the Americans concluded a warm, breezy day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 10-6 advantage.
“They’re playing the way I expected them to play, so I’m not surprised at all,” Lewis said. “But at the same time, to do it on this stage and in these moments and to pull these shots off and to make the putts and to do it with the joy that they’re doing it with, it’s the coolest part to me.”
Europe, which has captured the Solheim Cup the last three times, won the last two matches to conclude a 4-4 day. But the team in royal blue and yellow will need its largest comeback in Sunday singles to make it a record four in a row. The U.S. rallied from four points down to win in Germany in 2015.
The U.S. needs 4 1/2 points from a dozen singles matches to win the cup, and Europe needs eight points to retain it. Captain Suzann Pettersen drew inspiration from the European Ryder Cup team's rally from the same deficit to win at Medinah in 2012.
“I was on the opposite side in Germany, and I know what it feels like,” Pettersen said. “Everyone remembers Medinah. I mean, it’s a tough task.”
Lewis has relied on data to find the right combinations, whether keeping Korda and Allisen Corpuz together for alternate shot; sending rookie Lauren Coughlin out with three partners; or giving Zhang a comfortable pairing with Andrea Lee, her fellow Stanford Cardinal.
“I know their games backwards and forwards, and it’s allowed me to create some really good pairings,” Lewis said.
Korda and Corpuz fell behind early against Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen but turned it around on the back nine and got a break when Corpuz hit a worm-burner of a fairway wood into the par-5 14th hole that avoided the water and settled within 20 feet. Korda put her hands on her head in disbelief and Lewis gave Corpuz a shoulder rub in the fairway.
Korda holed the putt for eagle, her second in a row on a hole the U.S. has dominated, and she and Corpuz became the first American duo to go 4-0 in foursomes after winning twice last year in Spain.
“The Americans have played unbelievable. I don’t know how many eagles they’ve had. It seems like they’ve had double figures,” Hall of Famer and European assistant captain Laura Davies said. “They’ve just played great golf. Out-putted us at the moment. Deep squad of players. We’ll never say never, but it is going to be very, very difficult to get the cup back.”
A day after transportation problems prevented most fans from getting to the golf course for the opening tee shots, a situation that LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan took responsibility for, the grandstands surrounding the first tee were full and fans lined the gallery ropes shortly after 7 a.m.
The only thing that kept them quiet was a slow start by the Americans, but it got loud once Korda started rolling.
In the first afternoon better-ball match, Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom were 2 down to Khang and Alison Lee when Nordqvist birdied the par-3 11th hole. Khang's tying putt hung on the lip for 10 seconds before dropping, and she confirmed with a rules official that she had not waited too long for the ball to move.
Needing two putts to win the 14th, Khang made her 15-footer for eagle anyway, setting up the latest fist-pumping celebration for the Americans’ loudest cheerleader, who was next to the green in a cowboy hat when Corpuz hit her approach hours earlier.
Khang and Lee closed it out on the next hole for a 4-and-3 victory, Lee's first in a Solheim Cup match since 2015. She gave the U.S. an early lead with her wedge from 86 yards for an eagle 2 on the second hole, and the Americans’ caddies stripped from the waist up and chest-bumped to pay off a bet with Lee that they agreed to on the tee box.
“Literally holed out five minutes after that conversation. Great motivation,” Lee said.
Zhang and Andrea Lee never trailed in their 6-and-4 victory over Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. Zhang, the youngest U.S. player at 21 who had a forgettable Solheim debut last year, joined Korda and Coughlin by winning all three of her matches.
Pettersen benched Leona Maguire, a valuable contributor in the last two Solheim Cups who has played poorly this year, for both sessions. Rookie Albane Valenzuela also sat out all day, while Charley Hull and Pedersen played four matches each.
Hull delivered. The excitable English player hit a 300-yard-plus drive on the par-4 18th to set up a wedge to tap-in range by Esther Henseleit for a 1-up victory in foursomes over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, then did it again as she and Georgia Hall beat Corpuz and Lilia Vu 2 up in better ball.
Lexi Thompson improved her record in alternate shot to 7-2-1 in what is likely her final Solheim Cup, teaming with the unbeaten Coughlin to make four birdies in six holes on the back nine and beat Maja Stark and Hall, 4 and 3.
Thompson and Ewing were beaten 2 and 1 by Ciganda and Pedersen in fourballs. Ewing has lost her last six Solheim Cup matches.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from a bunker on the 15th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Rose Zhang smiles after winning a fourball match on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Europe's Emily Pedersen celebrates winning a fourball match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
United States' Rose Zhang celebrates after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Rose Zhang, right, is congratulated by teammate United States' Andrea Lee after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Alison Lee, center, reacts flanked by celebrating caddies after finding the cup from the fairway on the second hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Megan Khang celebrates after making a putt on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from the fifth tee during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Lexi Thompson smiles after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Lauren Coughlin hits from a bunker on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Ally Ewing hits from the 18th fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Europe's Esther Henseleit celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Europe's Charley Hull celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Nelly Korda hits from the first fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Nelly Korda celebrates after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
United States' Nelly Korda, left, is celebrates with teammate Allisen Corpuz after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)
