Anger at West Bank funerals

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused Israel of fanning the flames of unrest in the West Bank when Israeli troops shot dead two young Palestinian protesters.

There were disturbances across the territory as mourners gathered for the funerals of both the teenagers, who were shot and killed late on Wednesday in clashes near a military checkpoint. The Israeli military claims that troops opened fire after firebombs were thrown at them.

However, Abbas said he believed the attacks were part of a concerted effort by Israel to derail any peace process by instigating violence.

"It seems that Israel wants to spark chaos in the Palestinian territories," he said. "Israel is using lethal force against peaceful young protesters on every occasion. The Israeli government is responsible for the [negative] impact on US and international efforts to restart negotiations."

Palestinian security officials said Amer Nasser, 17, had been killed by a bullet to the head while 19-year-old Naji Balbisi had been shot in the chest.

Indignation on the streets

Some 6,000 people gathered in the village of Anabta on Thursday for the funerals of the protesters, the AFP news agency reported, with many calling for revenge.

There was also indignation in the southern city of Hebron, where a burial was taking place for a man who had died in an Israeli jail. Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh had served 10 years of a life sentence for involvement in the bombing of a Jerusalem café in 2002. Israel is accused of neglecting Hamdiyeh, who died of throat cancer, by failing to provide him with the necessary medical treatment.

The Israeli military reported that it had fired tear gas in clashes in parts of Hebron, away from the funeral, but that there had been no major injuries.

Thousands had taken to the streets the day before to protest the deaths of both the teenagers and the 64-year-old Hamdiyeh.

The latest developments come ahead of a weekend visit to the region by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to push for the resumption of negotiations.

Peace talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides have been stalled for more than four years, with Abbas demanding that Israel cease the building of settlements on occupied land.

rc/kms (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)