Israeli troops kill three Palestinians

GAZA - Israeli soldiers have killed three Palestinians and wounded more than 100 in an upsurge of violence that strained a truce many hope will help rally Muslim states behind the United States' anti-terror coalition.

Israeli and Palestinian officials warned that the cease-fire would collapse if there were no let-up in the violence, which followed Wednesday's reaffirmation of a truce plan by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

A 14-year-old Palestinian was the latest person to die in stonethrowing and exchanges of fire across the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Palestinians marked the first anniversary of the start of their uprising with protests and rallies.

At least 602 Palestinians and 169 Israelis have died since the uprising against Israeli occupation began after peace negotiations deadlocked.

Chanting "Death to Israel," thousands of Palestinians at rallies in Gaza and the West Bank city of Nablus marched behind an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hanging from gallows with a rope around its neck.

Israeli troops confronted hundreds of stonethrowers across Gaza and near the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Tulkarm in scenes reminiscent of the early days of the revolt.

Sharon called a meeting of his inner security cabinet in Tel Aviv late on Saturday to discuss the violence and "make decisions," a senior Israeli political source said.

The 14-year-old Palestinian was killed during stonethrowing near the Karni Crossing in Gaza, Palestinian doctors said. The army said some of the 300 protesters fired at the soldiers who responded with "riot control means," not live fire.

Earlier, troops killed an 18-year-old Palestinian in the Gaza Strip and a 48-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank city of Hebron, Palestinian doctors said.

The army said troops fired at Palestinian gunmen in Hebron after two soldiers were wounded by gunfire. Troops used "riot control means" to combat "very violent rioting" in Gaza, it said.

Palestinian hospital officials said 110 Palestinians were wounded in Saturday's violence, nine critically.

The bloodshed was a blow to efforts to forge a lasting truce which US officials hope will encourage Arab and Muslim states to join a coalition against terrorism after the September 11 suicide plane attacks on New York and Washington.

Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said Israel had killed 14 Palestinians since Arafat and Peres agreed to a cease-fire on Wednesday. "If this is called a cease-fire, then what is war?" he asked.

"If the Israelis continue this policy, the cease-fire will collapse and no talks can salvage the situation," he added.

Sharon's spokesman Raanan Gissin blamed the Palestinians for the violence saying: "Arafat has not fulfilled one thing that he agreed to do."

But Peres defended the truce, saying he hoped violence was waning. "There is definitely a change," he said, noting that there had been no major bombings against Israel since Wednesday's talks.

Arafat was due to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Sunday on the truce efforts. Israeli cabinet minister Danny Naveh was scheduled to meet Mubarak later in the day, Israeli officials said.

Protests and rallies took place across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after commemorative events on Friday. In Nablus, Palestinians burned a model airplane decorated in the colours of the American and Israeli flags.

Although Arafat and Peres pledged their commitment to a cease-fire plan on Wednesday, obstacles include disagreement over the timetable, vows by Palestinian militants to continue fighting and opposition to negotiations by right-wing Israelis.

Abed Rabbo said Israel promised in security talks on Friday to ease its blockade of the West Bank and Gaza Strip the same day, but Palestinians reported few signs that the army was easing its grip.

Israel, hit by a wave of suicide and car bombings, says it tightened its blockade of Palestinian areas for security reasons after the revolt began. Palestinians call the blockade, which has crippled their economy, collective punishment.

Peres said both sides were supposed to start implementing the initial steps of the truce plan on Sunday, 48 hours after Friday's security cabinet meeting.

He said Israel was interested in ending the blockade, adding that it "only increases hatred and support of terror."

Sharon's spokesman Gissin said the closure would be eased only in areas where violence ceased.

He said the Palestinian Authority had not carried out Israel's demand for the immediate arrest of 10 people on a list of about 100 who Israel feared were "ticking bombs." Gissin said Peres gave Arafat the list on Wednesday.

Senior Palestinian security officials said the issue of arrests had not been discussed at any of the meetings. Officials say they will not arrest people based on Israeli lists but will arrest those violating Arafat's cease-fire orders.

- REUTERS

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