AL KHALIL, Sept 25: Israeli troops demolished three houses belonging to Palestinian militants in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said.

A house belonging to Diab Schweiki of the Islamic Jihad group was wired with explosives and blown up on a hillside of the sprawling city of Al Khalil. Schweiki is wanted by Israel.

The second house, south of Al Khalil in the village of Dura, belonged to Anis and Akram Namoura, two brothers imprisoned by Israel a year ago for carrying out attacks on Israelis.

Palestinian sources said both served in Force 17, the personal bodyguard of President Yasser Arafat, and were members of his Fatah movement.

A third house, belonging to Sheikh Abd al-Haliq Natshe, an official of Hamas, was destroyed in Al Khalil, witnesses said.

The Israeli army confirmed that it carried out the demolitions which critics call collective punishment.

Israel maintains it is the only way of deterring militants intent on attacking Israelis.

Palestinian neighbours said about 25 people in total lived in the three houses.

The Namoura brothers are serving long prison terms for killing an Israeli army officer and wounding two policemen, the army said.

Earlier, the army announced it arrested 12 Palestinians in raids in the West Bank on Tuesday night, including one man who it said planned to carry out a suicide bombing.—Reuters