Israeli troops shot dead an 18-year-old Palestinian near a
Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medics
said.
An army spokeswoman said soldiers lying in ambush under cover of
darkness opened fire on three men they believed were preparing to
throw petrol bombs. They hit one and two fled.
Palestinian security officials identified the dead man as
Abdelkader Darzeid, 18, from a nearby refugee camp, close to the
West Bank administrative centre of Ramallah.
The army spokeswoman said soldiers found 10 petrol bombs at the
scene.
They believed the men had intended to throw them at Israeli cars on a road by the settlement of Bet El.
Palestinian youths frequently throw stones and sometimes petrol
bombs at cars in the occupied territory. Serious casualties are
rare.
Tensions have been running high in recent days following clashes
between Arabs and Jews in the Israeli city of Acre during a period
of Jewish holidays that continue into next week.
Friction between Palestinians and Jewish settlers in the West Bank
has also been on the increase in recent weeks.
Jews have complained of attacks on them and Israel's prime
minister denounced what he called a pogrom by settlers near
Nablus.
The United States and Israel's other allies have long urged it to
remove the half million Israelis who live on occupied land in
defiance of Washington's interpretation of international law.
Palestinians say the settlements hinder any peace with Israel.
