2 West Bank Arabs Killed; Security Tight in Jerusalem

Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians during fighting in the occupied West Bank on Sunday as 1,500 police officers patrolled Jerusalem to prevent battles between Muslims and Jews celebrating religious observances.

Police blocked right-wing Jewish extremists from marching through the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City and arrested two Israelis.

Reinforced police were stationed in Jerusalem to prevent trouble on the coinciding Jewish and Muslim holidays centered on the Temple Mount.

In the West Bank town of Qabatiya, Israeli troops shot and killed one Palestinian and wounded three others, the army said without identifying the victims. Israel army radio said one Israeli military officer was injured during the clash.

Arab Dies at Hospital

A Palestinian died at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital after being shot at least twice during a demonstration in the West Bank town of Beit Jala, the army and hospital officials said. The hospital officials said the 38-year-old man tried to throw a brick at Israeli soldiers.

The deaths raised to more than 210 the number of Palestinians killed since the uprising began Dec. 9 in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. One Arab citizen of Israel has been killed, as well as three Israeli Jews.

In the Gaza Strip, 25 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli troops firing rubber bullets or in beatings by the soldiers during a series of clashes, Gaza hospital officials said.

The army imposed or extended curfews on eight cities and refugee camps in Gaza and the West Bank, confining about 250,000 Palestinians to their homes.

Increased Police Security

Increased police security was mounted in the Old City, the walled section of Arab East Jerusalem, as Muslims and Jews celebrated major holidays.

Muslims prayed on the Temple Mount to mark Eid al Adha, which commemorates Abraham’s preparations to sacrifice his son at God’s instructions.

Jews marked Tisha B’av, the anniversary of the destruction by Roman troops of the Jewish Temple about 2,000 years ago.

More than 100 Jewish militants who demand Israeli control over the Temple Mount held a prayer vigil at its gates but were barred by police from entering. Jews can visit the area individually, but, under an arrangement with Muslim religious authorities, they are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount.

Police later barred the group from entering the adjacent Muslim quarter after they refused to give up the Israeli flags they were carrying.

But about 20 followers of the right-wing Tehiya party and the militantly anti-Arab Kach movement managed to march into the district waving Israeli flags before being stopped by police.

Israel Radio said armed Kach members circulated through the Old City, and police said two were arrested. The Kach movement, headed by U.S.-born Rabbi Meir Kahane, calls for the ouster of all Arabs from Israeli-held territory.

Few tourists visited the Old City or other sections of East Jerusalem during the day.

“There is a tremendous police presence here, and we are a little worried about getting caught in something,” said Tom McNeely, a 47-year-old lawyer from Charlotte, N.C., as he and his wife walked along Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa.