Palestinian shot dead after alleged car-ramming attack

She added that the forces were conducting arrests and confiscating weapons in the Qalandiya refugee camp, near Ramallah.

Clashes also took place between the Israeli soldiers and local youths, who hurled stones and empty bottles at them, while the Israeli soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes, and kidnapped Mahmoud Nayef Abu Lateefa, 26, after repeatedly beating him. The UNHRC’s equation of aggressive terrorism with self-defense and its condemnation of the latter provides yet another example of the virulent bias of this UN body and explains why the UNHRC has rendered itself meaningless.

Nineteen Israelis, as well as one United States citizen, have been killed in Palestinian attacks including stabbings, shootings and vehicle rammings.

Pouilly’s comments mirror Sweden’s recent criticism of Israel.

Israeli authorities this week said they opened an investigation into the actions of the police officer who killed her, to determine whether he used excessive force.

Four other Palestinians were injured, the ministry said.

The raid came amid nearly daily knife, gun and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians and clashes with Israeli soldiers since October 1.

When asked why the uprising had not spread among the population, 43 per cent of Palestinians said it was because people were afraid of Israeli troops or the Palestinian security forces.

Abed Almohsin Hassoneh, 21, from the neighbourhood of Beit Hanina, drove his white Mazda into a bus stop on a crowded thoroughfare at the western entrance to the city, according to police spokeswoman Luba Samri.

Many of the Palestinians killed have been alleged attackers, and a large number have been young people, including teenagers.

The army said it was checking whether the soldiers were hit by Palestinian gunmen or by friendly fire. Construction was expected to begin in about a year and a half, Rubin said.

In his annual pre-Christmas address, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, called for calm to be restored.