RAMALLAH ø Palestinian insurgency groups have targeted U.S. nationals in the West Bank.

Israeli intelligence sources have warned the United States that its nationals were being identified by the ruling Fatah movement in Palestinian Authority areas in the West Bank. The sources said the greatest threat to U.S. nationals has come from Palestinian insurgents in the northern West Bank.

The Israeli government has warned foreign journalists to stay away from Nablus until at least Friday. So far, there have not been any reports of attacks on U.S. or foreign nationals in the West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported.

Fatah, the sources said, has sought to abduct U.S. nationals, particularly journalists. But the sources said other Western nationals could also be kidnapped in Nablus over the next 48 hours.

In October, a Fatah unit took responsibility for the bombing of a U.S. embassy convoy in the northern Gaza Strip. Three U.S. security officers were killed in the attack which the U.S. intelligence community has determined was approved by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.