JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Palestinian insurgents have sought to produce mortars and missiles in at least three cities in the West Bank.

Israeli military sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been developing missiles and mortars in Bethlehem, Jenin and Tulkarm. They said they believe the two groups were also using such cities as Jericho and Nablus to develop weapons.

"We are identifying efforts to transplant the main struggle to Judea and Samaria [West Bank]," Israel Security Agency director Yuval Diskin said.

Over the last year, officials said, Israel's military halted several attempts to produce Kassam-class missiles in the West Bank. They said Hamas and Islamic Jihad have already tested rockets and mortars in the northern West Bank.