NABLUS, West Bank?Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Palestinians in the West Bank on Sunday, encountering stiff resistance in the crowded Jenin refugee camp and in the winding alleyways of Nablus’ Old City.

At least 14 Palestinians were killed in Nablus, where dead bodies were sprawled along the streets on the 10th day of Israel’s offensive to weed out militants staging deadly terror attacks on its civilians.

The renewed fighting came as Secretary of State Colin Powell, due to visit the region this week to try to resolve the crisis, said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has “taken very much to heart” President Bush’s call for an immediate withdrawal from Palestinian areas.

But Powell noted that the Israeli leader has yet to set a timetable for a pullback.

At the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, Sharon defended the offensive, calling it “a war for our homes.”