TULKAREM, West Bank?For the first time in 16 months of fighting, Israeli troops took over an entire Palestinian town Monday, imposing a curfew, searching homes and arresting suspected militants in retaliation for attacks on Israeli civilians.

One Palestinian was killed and 15 were wounded in gun battles as troops took over Tulkarem.

In a clash in Ramallah, also on the West Bank, a Palestinian intelligence officer was killed and two other members of the security services were wounded.

The Tulkarem raid was the latest in a series of unprecedented reprisals for a deadly Palestinian shooting attack on an Israeli banquet hall last week. It was seen a further blow to the standing of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who has been unable to leave his Ramallah compound because of Israeli armored vehicles parked outside.

Arafat warned Monday that Israel has “crossed all red lines” by taking over Tulkarem.