Israeli army kills 3 Palestinian militants in West Bank clashes

Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants Tuesday in clashes near the West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

 A Palestinian liaison official said that the Israeli side informed them about the death of two militants and later told them about the third.


 Earlier in the day, Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesperson, accused the militants of planning a "lethal attack" in Israel, adding that they were carrying explosives and weapons in their car.


 There was no immediate information about the identity of the victims or their affiliation with the Palestinian side, but Lerner claimed that they were members in Al-Qaida-associated Global Jihad group.


 A special Israeli police unit said the three men were killed during a brief exchange of fire with members of the Yamam counterterrorism unit in the village of Yata near Mt. Hebron.


 The suspected militants were reportedly barricaded inside a home, and opened fire at police who came to arrest them.


 Meanwhile, Palestinian witnesses said that Israeli forces stormed Yata town near the scene of the clash and encircled some Palestinian houses.


 The Israeli army sealed off the area of the incident and prevented Palestinian ambulance workers from reaching it, according to Palestinian source.


 The clashes come as reports said that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators were preparing to hold a new round of negotiations.


 Today's killings brought the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the negotiations resumed in July to eight.