Sawt Falasteen - West Bank violence, Israeli protests overshadow Pentagon chief visit

A planned mass rally in Tel Aviv by Israeli protesters opposed to the government's controversial legal reform plans forced an 11th-hour change of venue for Austin's talks, throwing an international spotlight on Israel's domestic divisions.

Just hours before Austin was due to arrive, three suspected Palestinian militants were shot dead by undercover agents of Israel's border police in the occupied West Bank despite a UN call for restraint to halt the "cycle of violence" that has gripped the territory this year.

The Palestinian health ministry announced the "martyrdom" of three men shot by Israeli forces in Jaba, near the flashpoint northern city of Jenin.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for the border police, praised undercover officers for "taking out the despicable terrorists, who opened fire at our fighters".

The health ministry identified the dead men as Sufyan Fakhoury, 26, Ahmed Fashafsha, 22, and Nayef Malaysha, 25. It did not provide further details.

Israeli police said special forces accompanied by soldiers had been in Jaba to arrest suspects involved in shooting attacks against soldiers in the area, including Fakhoury and Fashafsha. It said the pair were operatives of militant group Islamic Jihad.

"During the operation, shots were fired at the border police undercover officers from the wanted men's car. Border police undercover officers responded with fire, and killed the three armed men in the car," police said, adding that Malaysha was also a suspected militant.

"A number of guns and explosive devices were found in the vehicle," the police statement said.

In a statement, Islamic Jihad condemned Israel for the "heinous assassination" in Jaba.

- Pentagon chief visit -

Thursday's raid came just hours before Israeli officials were due to host the Pentagon chief for talks, which have been moved from the defence ministry in Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion airport.

"At the request of the Israeli ministry of defence, the location of Secretary Austin’s bilateral meetings Thursday in Tel Aviv with Israeli leaders will be relocated from the ministry of defence to a location near the airport," Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said.

A senior US defence official said Israeli officials had "concerns about planned protests near the ministry of defence headquarters" in Tel Aviv.

"The US, of course, supports the right to hold peaceful and nonviolent protests.. and looks forward to productive discussions," the official added.

Protesters used their vehicles to block access roads to Ben Gurion airport ahead of Austin's arrival. An AFP photographer said police had been unable to clear them.

In Tel Aviv, protesters on foot blocked a major thoroughfare near the defence ministry, another AFP photographer reported.

Nine straight weeks of protests have been held by opponents of the reform plans, which would give politicians greater power over the courts. They have drawn tens of thousands of demonstrators who regard them as a threat to democracy.

The mounting violence in the West Bank has coincided with the tenure of Netanyahu's new coalition government which took office in December and is regarded as the most right-wing in Israeli history.

A Tuesday raid by the Israeli military in Jenin left seven Palestinians dead, including a member of Hamas accused of killing two Israeli settlers last month.

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland called on both Israel and the Palestinians Wednesday "to observe calm and restraint", saying the "cycle of violence... must be stopped immediately."

The Palestinian health ministry identified the seventh fatality from Tuesday's raid as Walid Nassar, 14.

Some observers fear further violence particularly around Jerusalem's holy sites during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins in late March, and the Jewish holiday of Passover in April.

Since the start of the year, the conflict has claimed the lives of 75 Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians.

Thirteen Israeli adults and children, including members of the security forces and civilians, and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.

I.Saadi--SF-PST