HIGHLIGHTS: The Blind Random Destruction Reveals The Brutal Nature of Israeli Occupation, Abed Rebbo||Curfew Temporary Lifted Across West Bank Except in Hebron||Palestinian Woman Killed in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza|| Powell Upbeat About International Support for Bush on Arafat|| STORY: With a pair of thunderous nighttime explosions, Israel destroyed the hulking Palestinian municipal and security headquarters in the West Bank city of Hebron Saturday, but mystery surrounded the fate of 15 armed Palestinians that Israel said were holed up inside.(Read photo caption)

"This destruction, without taking into consideration that there might be injured people inside that compound...shows the brutality of the (Israeli) occupation," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.

Palestinians inside last fired on army positions early Friday morning, but then the shooting stopped. A Palestinian Cabinet minister was allowed to go into the building later Friday to try to negotiate surrender.

The minister, Talal Sidr, said he couldn't find anyone inside, but that he was unable to search all of the large, heavily damaged building.

CURFEWS TEMPORARY LIFTED ACROSS WEST BANK EXCEPT IN HEBRON

While the curfew remained in Hebron, it was lifted for at least five hours in the six other West Bank cities where the occupation army is present in order to allow high school students to take their final exams.

During the break Saturday, many families shopped, some visited with family and friends, while high school students took their final exams.

PALESTINIAN WOMAN KILLED IN DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA

Meanwhile, a Palestinian woman was shot dead and her husband wounded early Saturday in the Palestinian town of Deir al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The Palestinians said the couple was hit by machine gun fire from Israeli tanks.

POWELL UPBEAT ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR BUSH ON ARAFAT

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says President George W. Bush may have "jarred some nerves" with his strong stand against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but he believes international support for the new policy is solid.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Powell specifically referred to backing by European and Arab countries even though there is little indication among these countries that they fully embrace Bush's position.

Powell said the United States hopes to work with European and Arab countries to carry out a "transformation" of Palestinian society.

He said Assistant Secretary of State William Burns would meet in London next week with U.N., European Union and Russian officials "and explore with them how to move forward."

Diplomatic officials said Burns might then go on to the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Arab leaders.

Bush has promised to work toward the establishment of a Palestinian state within three years.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Israeli soldier directs bulldozers as they finish tearing up rubble of the demolished regional headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank town of Hebron Saturday, June 29, 2002. After a 4-day standoff the Israeli Army destroyed the building early Saturday. Nobody was reported to be inside the complex. (AP Photo/Enric Marti