Palestinians Use Firebomb Fusillade Many In Protest-Besieged Town Blame House Vote For Violence

Palestinian demonstrators shouting “God is great!” escalated their attacks on Israeli soldiers Friday with a new weapon: firebombs.

In the seventh straight day of protests in this tense West Bank town, gas-filled bottles exploded in staccato near the feet of Israeli troops, forcing them at the height of the bombardment into retreat.

While some protesters threw the bottles, others busily concocted new firebombs or carried stones to the front for comrades to throw at the soldiers. Israeli troops responded with rubber bullets.

By the end of the day 39 Palestinians were injured - including one in critical condition with a head injury. An Israeli soldier was injured by a stone.

Relations between Israel and the Palestinians hit their lowest point this year after Israel began construction of a housing project for Jews on disputed Jerusalem land that Palestinians claim as theirs.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk, who has been closely involved in the peace talks, said Friday the situation “was fragile” and urged both sides to resume negotiations.

Israel says Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority has instigated the daily riots, hoping the violence will spur Israeli concessions at the negotiating table.

The Palestinians have denied the charge, saying instead that the demonstrations are a reflection of growing frustration over the stalled peace talks. And they predicted the violence could increase.

Still, there was evidence of organization Friday. Dozens of Palestinian youths arrived at the scene carrying empty bottles, rags and lighters. Others carried plastic bags filled with stones to the line of confrontation, fresh ammunition for those who had run out of nearby rocks.

Palestinians interviewed during the street battles insisted the unrest was touched off by a vote 11 days ago by the House of Representatives on a nonbinding resolution urging President Clinton to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital.

In a series of interviews with Palestinian police, paramedics, Hebron shopkeepers and Arab youths wounded in Friday’s clashes, virtually all of them cited the House vote as the spark for the wave of violence.