Israelis Kill 3 More Palestinians in West Bank; Toll Reaches 19 : 4 Others Wounded, Rioting Spreads to Israel’s Arab Areas

Israeli soldiers shot three Palestinians to death and wounded four in the occupied West Bank today, and rioting that has torn the occupied territories for two weeks spread to Arab areas of Israel.

The mayor of Bethlehem canceled his annual Christmas party for Israeli officials and foreign diplomats because of the continuing violence.

The Christmas Eve gala, symbolizing peaceful relations between Arabs and Israelis, had been held every year since Israel seized Bethlehem and the rest of the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War.

Mayor Elias Freij stressed that traditional Christmas religious services will take place as usual in Bethlehem, but the State Department warned Americans they could be in danger if they traveled to Israeli-occupied territories and recommended that any citizens going to the area register with the U.S. Embassy or consulate-general.

Arab Citizens Strike

Thousands of Israel’s 750,000 Arab citizens held a general strike in sympathy with the 1.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In Jerusalem, the strike prompted stone-throwing, tire-burning and other unrest. Violence reached for the first time to Nazareth, other Arab towns in Israel and even the Tel Aviv suburb of Jaffo.

Today’s deaths brought the confirmed death toll to 19 and the unofficial number to 23 in the two weeks of violence.

Riots began after an Israeli businessman was killed in the Gaza Strip and several Arabs died the following day in a traffic accident involving an Israeli truck. Violence was fed by rumors the truck ran down the Arabs deliberately.

100 Arabs Injured

Figures released by Brig. Gen. Ephraim Lapid, spokesman for the Israeli army, said about 100 Arabs have been wounded and fewer than 200 arrested since Dec. 8.

Israel radio reported 80 arrests today, including 31 in Jerusalem. Army radio said 25 protesters were arrested in Jaffo, and 10 Arabs and a policeman injured.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir rejected claims from abroad that the army used excessive force.

“Law and order comes before putting on a pretty image,” Shamir said. He accused the press of exaggerating casualties and violence by soldiers.

There is “no reason for weakness or reason for fear,” he said at a candle-lighting marking the sixth day of Hanukkah.

Palestinians Supported

Most of Israel’s 170,000 Arab workers held a general strike today in solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip who refuse to go to their jobs in Israel.

“I think it’s a national uprising after 20 years of occupation,” Mohammed Watad, one of five Arab members of Israel’s 120-seat Parliament, said on Israel television. He said Israel should keep its soldiers out of Palestinian refugee camps.

The Arab-run Palestine Press Service said schools were closed and public transport was halted in the occupied territories today, and Arab workers continued staying home from jobs in Israel.

Hotels, restaurants, construction companies and cleaning firms in Israel have begun feeling the pinch after nearly two weeks of strikes.

About 94,000 Arabs usually travel to jobs in Israel every day, 51,000 from the West Bank and 43,000 from Gaza.