Palestinian bombers kill their own in checkpoint attack

A car bomb exploded near a busy Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank today, killing a 60-year-old Palestinian and wounding at least 13 people.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent group with ties to Yasser Arafat’s ruling Fatah movement, claimed responsibility.

A member of the group said the car was blown up by remote control, and that the bombing was meant to avenge the killing of a leader of the group by Israel last month.

Most of the casualties were Palestinians.

The blast killed 60-year-old Salah Abu Sneineh, and wounded three members of his family, including a six-year-old grandson who was seriously wounded, hospital officials in the nearby West Bank town of Ramallah said. Three more people hurt in the blast were also being treated in Ramallah.

Four more wounded Palestinians were taken to Jerusalem hospitals, along with three members of Israel’s paramilitary border police, said Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman.

Israel Radio said Israeli security forces went on high alert about an hour before the explosion at the Kalandia checkpoint, located between Jerusalem and Ramallah.

Palestinian security services said the car exploded near the checkpoint, where Israeli soldiers check the identity cards of thousands of Palestinians crossing every day on foot or in cars.

Five other vehicles were damaged in the blast.