Bomb hurts three in Israel

KALANDIA CHECKPOINT, West Bank (AP) -- A car bomb exploded today near a busy Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank, wounding three people, Israeli officials said.
The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a violent group with ties to Yasser Arafat's ruling Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the attack.
An Israeli rescue service initially reported a second blast, but officials later said there was only one explosion.
Israel Radio said Israeli security forces went on high alert about an hour before the explosion at the Kalandia checkpoint, located between Jerusalem and the Palestinian commercial center of Ramallah.
Palestinian security services said the car exploded as it approached 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.
Paramedics said three people were wounded, one moderately and two lightly.
A pool of blood was visible on the ground. Firefighters put out a fire in one of the cars.
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