Israeli Troops Kill 3 in W. Bank, Close Universities

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in the West Bank on Wednesday and razed the East Jerusalem homes of militants convicted in a series of deadly bombings.

Troops also closed Hebron University and Polytechnic Institute in Hebron, calling them a “hotbed for terror attacks,” and arrested two Hamas militants in the West Bank city. The closures prompted brief clashes when a curfew was imposed.

Palestinian Education Minister Naim abu Hommos accused the Israelis of attempting to “sabotage the education process, which already has been badly affected through sieges, closures and curfews.”

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the closures were not in the interest of either side.

Several thousand students attend the two colleges. The Israeli army said some are using the facilities to plan and launch attacks. Israel decided to close the campuses after a suicide bombing killed 23 people in Tel Aviv this month.

In Wednesday’s violence, Israeli forces killed two 16-year-olds in the city of Tulkarm during clashes with youths throwing stones and explosive devices, Palestinians said. The army said its forces shot two people throwing homemade grenades and firebombs at troops.

In the village of Kabatiya, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian man during an operation to arrest militants. Residents said the man had psychological problems and was killed when he came out of his house to watch soldiers trying to force two militants to surrender.

In East Jerusalem, Israel razed homes that it said belonged to four Hamas militants convicted of organizing bombings that killed 35 people last year, including five Americans who died in a July attack.