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Three Palestinians Killed in West Bank

Posted on: Saturday, 3 January 2004, 06:00 CST

Israeli soldiers shot and killed three Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus early Saturday, Palestinian hospital sources said.

A fourth Palestinian was seriously wounded after he was shot in the head by troops during the funeral procession for his compatriots, witnesses said. They said soldiers had opened fire on him without provocation.

The clashes could complicate efforts to get Palestinian militant groups to sign a cease-fire with Israel. Militant groups have been reluctant to commit to a truce, citing continuing Israeli military operations.

Egypt pressed ahead with efforts toward a cease-fire from the militants, agreeing on Friday to send its intelligence chief for a new round of negotiations next week. Gen. Omar Suleiman, who has led the Egyptian mediation efforts, will visit next week.

The Israeli army has been conducting a series of raids in Nablus over the past two weeks aimed at Palestinian militant groups operating in the area.

In the first stage of the Nablus incident, troops opened fire on Palestinian attackers, an army spokesman said. The spokesman said soldiers confirmed three men had been hit, but were unaware of their condition.

One of the Palestinians had dropped a large concrete block in the direction of a soldier, the spokesman said, while another was seen holding a pistol. A third threw a firebomb in the direction of Israeli troops, he said.

Palestinian witnesses said the gunfire killed three men, including one passer-by. Hospital and Red Crescent officials identified the dead as Rohi Hazam Shoman, 25; Amar Arafat, 19; and Amjad al Masri, 15.

Palestinian witnesses said Mohammed al Masri, a relative of Amjad, was shot in the head and seriously wounded during the funeral procession. They said soldiers opened fire from a distance of about 200 yards without provocation.

The Israeli military said it was checking the report.

A visit by Suleiman would follow a meeting on Thursday between Egyptian presidential envoy Osama el-Baz and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

During the talks, Egypt agreed to a request from Arafat to resume its mediation efforts with the militant groups, said Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian minister of negotiations.

Egyptian officials weren't available for comment Friday.

With Egyptian backing, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has been trying to persuade the militant groups to commit to a truce as a step toward resuming peace talks with Israel. Suleiman has led the Egyptian mediation efforts.

It's not clear how the militants will respond. The militant group Hamas vowed revenge after Israel carried out an unsuccessful missile strike in the Gaza Strip aimed at two Hamas members this week. The previous week, Israel killed three Islamic Jihad militants in a similar air strike, while a Palestinian suicide bomber killed four Israelis near Tel Aviv.

Since taking office in October, Qureia has made a truce a top priority. But the efforts have so far been unsuccessful. Egyptian-sponsored talks in Cairo last month ended without agreement.

A truce commitment by the Palestinians could pave the way toward full-fledged negotiations on the U.S.-backed "road map" - a peace plan that envisions an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last month that if there is no progress on the road map, he would move to unilaterally redraw the lines between Israel and the Palestinians.

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