ARABS-ISRAEL - Feb. 11 - Soldiers Kill 3 Palestinians.

Three Palestinians are killed by Israeli soldiers in separate incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli troops making arrests in the West Bank city of Nablus kill a Palestinian militant as he flees. In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian carrying a Kalashnikov rifle near the Kissufim crossing into Israel is shot by soldiers. Israeli soldiers also kill an 8-year-old Palestinian boy when they open fire on a crowd throwing stones in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, according to PA sources. The recent violence come as the Army closes off the PA-ruled territories, despite the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha, because of warnings of planned attacks by militants. Eid Al Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important feast on the Muslim calendar. On Feb. 10, the Israeli government offered its plan to ease restrictions on PA-ruled territories during the holiday, with Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz instructing soldiers "to exhibit extra sensitivity towards the Palestinian civilian population during the holiday". But late on Feb. 10, Mofaz rescinded the plan, saying Israel had intelligence reports of planned suicide bombings. He said: "The Palestinian Authority is not making any efforts to stop the waves of terror, and it is in our hands today". Palestinians reacted with dismay and anger to news of the closing, which prevented some from coming here to pray and others from visiting family members in neighbouring cities. Zakaria Al Qaq, co-director of the Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information, said: "The holidays are becoming the most politicised days in the Palestinian year". Israeli officials said the "complete closure" - a ban on all Palestinian travel through the occupied territories - would last through the holiday, until Feb. 14. On Feb. 12, two Palestinians armed with grenades and knives and preparing to carry out an attack are killed early in the morning near the Dugit settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. Soldiers open fire as the two are seen approaching. In Bethlehem, an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper as he patrolled near Manger Square.