Violence Erupts as Palestinians March in Support of Uprising

Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Saturday in support of their uprising against Israel. Three Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in clashes with Israeli troops.

The renewed fighting raised doubts about prospects for a truce sought by the U.S. Each side accused the other of breaking promises made last week in cease-fire talks, including a meeting of senior security commanders Friday.

The Palestinians said Israel hadn’t started pulling back troops as promised and had used excessive force. Israel said the Palestinians hadn’t made a serious effort to stop violent protests.

More security talks were scheduled for today, but both sides said expectations were low. Israel TV said the Israeli Cabinet would decide today whether to permit Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to meet with Palestinian negotiators later in the day to continue truce talks.

The United States wants an end to the fighting, which entered its second year Saturday. Washington sees the conflict as an impediment to its effort to win Arab and Muslim support for possible military action against Islamic extremists suspected in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

It was not clear whether the violence would cool after the Palestinians’ commemorations of the uprising anniversary, or whether the protests signaled strong opposition to a truce.

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat has been reluctant to go against the public mood in Palestinian areas. But in the last two weeks he has gone out of his way to be seen as supportive of U.S. policy.

On Saturday, hundreds of young Palestinians threw stones at three Israeli army posts in the Gaza Strip. The army said the rioters also hurled firebombs, but an Associated Press reporter who witnessed some clashes did not see firebombs.

Israeli troops fired tear gas and bullets at the stone-throwers, killing a 14- and a 17-year-old, said Moawiya Hassanein, director of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Sixty-nine Palestinians were wounded.

In Hebron in the West Bank, gunfire erupted between Palestinians and Israeli troops. A man passing nearby was killed by Israeli fire, Palestinians said.