Israeli soldiers lose appeal over occupied territories

GAZA - Israel's High Court has rejected an appeal by reserve soldiers refusing to serve in the occupied territories.

Violence surged again yesterday with Israeli troops killing a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians accused Israeli troops earlier of beating to death a teenager in the West Bank city of Hebron, while sources from both sides of the conflict said troops shot dead a Hamas gunman and two other Palestinians.

In a legal battle on the sidelines of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has raged for 27 months, eight reserve soldiers lost an appeal to Israel's High Court to sanction their refusal to serve in the occupied territories.

A three-judge panel said it could not back the idea of "selective conscientious objection", declaring that such a policy could loosen the bonds that hold Israelis together.

The Army had argued it would harm the security of the Jewish state, which is locked in a bloody conflict with the Palestinians that shows no signs of abating.

In the Gaza Strip yesterday, soldiers and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire near the Jewish settlement of Neve Dekalim, Palestinian security officials said.

One Palestinian was killed, the officials added. An Israeli military source said soldiers shot at two armed men, hitting one of them.

Later, a 17-year-old Palestinian was pronounced dead in hospital in Hebron after he was beaten by soldiers who stopped him for a curfew violation.

The Army spokesman had no immediate comment on the Hebron incident. A military source said the teenager's family had filed a complaint with Israeli civilian police.

Earlier, troops killed a Hamas militant who fought a gun battle with them after infiltrating Israel from the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Palestinian witnesses said soldiers also shot dead a 20-year-old Palestinian man during a clash in Nablus, and a 37-year-old teacher whose car collided with an Army jeep near Jenin. The Army is investigating.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: The Middle East