Soldiers Kill Four Palestinians Despite Clampdown by Israelis

In one of the bloodiest days in nearly four months of anti-Israeli rioting, soldiers killed at least four Palestinians today despite a massive clampdown in the occupied territories in anticipation of “Land Day” violence.

The military closed the Palestine Press Service, a Palestinian-run news agency that was the main source of information from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, for six months.

In addition, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected a petition from the Foreign Press Assn. to immediately open the occupied areas to media coverage. But it ordered the army to explain within 30 days why journalists should not be allowed free access.

Violence in 18 Areas

Despite unprecedented security measures and thousands of troops and police, violence erupted in at least 18 West Bank towns and refugee camps. At least 55 people were injured, including 14 wounded by army gunfire, Palestinian sources said.

The violence marked Land Day, an annual day of protest by Israeli Arabs against land that was confiscated from Palestinians in 1976.

The West Bank and Gaza Strip were closed, and thousands of extra police and soldiers were deployed. Only the territories’ 65,000 Jewish settlers were permitted to travel freely. There are 1.5 million Palestinians in the territories.

Deaths Described

Despite the crackdown, violence erupted in the West Bank. Palestinian sources said troops shot and killed a 50-year-old woman during rioting in the West Bank village of Deir Abu Mash’al and a 23-year-old man in a clash in the West Bank town of Burka.

A man in his 20s was shot to death by soldiers during a violent demonstration in the West Bank town of Shuyukh. State-run Israel Radio reported a fourth death, but did not provide details.

Israel Radio said at least one soldier was wounded when he was hit in the head with a pickax by attacking villagers in Deir Abu Mash’al.

In Beit Sahour near Bethlehem in the West Bank, troops clashed with about 200 protesters who pelted them with rocks, waved outlawed Palestinian flags and set tires ablaze.

Barriers Thrown Up

A reporter in the village saw roadblocks of boulders, rusted barrels, twisted metal and garbage blocking dozens of winding streets.

In East Jerusalem, police officers swept into the Arab-owned Palestine Press Service and ordered it closed.

Ibrahim Kareen, publisher of the service, said police told him the agency was being closed because it was funded by the Palestine Liberation Organization. He denied PLO funding and vowed to continue providing information.

“All we need is a telephone,” Kareen said.

An extra 4,000 police were stationed in Israel’s Arab sectors.

Phone Lines Cut

Telephone lines to Gaza remained severed and troops warned on loudspeakers that curfew violators would be shot.

Reporters were barred from entering the territories without a previously arranged army escort, and army spokeswoman Ofra Preuss said violators would be prosecuted.

The maximum penalty for entering a closed military area is five years in prison.

Authorities today announced the number of suspected Palestinian rioters arrested in recent weeks has passed 4,000.