'Two Palestinians killed by Israeli troops'

Jerusalem: Two Palestinians were killed on Monday by Israeli soldiers who came to destroy the home of another Palestinian at Qalandiya in the West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

The Israeli army had reported that troops had "hit" three Palestinians in an exchange of fire which occurred during the demolition of the house of a Palestinian accused of killing an Israeli.

Mohammed Abu Shahin is accused of shooting dead Danny Gonen near the Dolev settlement in the West Bank on June 19, in an attack that also wounded another Israeli.

During the operation to destroy the house at Qalandiya, hundreds of Palestinians attacked Israeli security forces by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, the military said.

Violence since the start of October has killed 83 people on the Palestinian side -- including one Arab Israeli -- and 12 Israelis.

In response, the Israeli government has ordered an intensification of demolitions of homes of those accused of carrying out the attacks.

It argues that the policy acts as a deterrent, but critics say the main victims are relatives forced to pay for another person's actions.