Palestinian Hits Israeli Soldiers With Car in West Bank, Shot Dead

The Palestinians say it is the result of almost half a century of Israeli occupation and frustration over repeated failures in peace efforts and a lack of hope for gaining independence.

Earlier, Samer Hassan Siresee, 51, was shot dead by border police after getting out of a taxi and running at forces with a knife at Tapuah junction near the northern West Bank city Nablus, police said.

Israeli forces have arrested a Palestinian suspect in a drive-by shooting that killed two Israelis in the West Bank, the internal Shin Bet security service said Sunday.

Another Palestinian official, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, said on Voice of Palestine Radio that Abbas told Kerry that “Palestinians were the victims” and were only defending themselves against Israeli actions.

A Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during clashes north of Hebron in the West Bank, the third Palestinian killed on Thursday, amid the ongoing violence in the country.

The deaths come the day after an Israel Defense Forces officer acknowledged to the Israeli Ynet news site that the IDF’s policy is to minimize Palestinian deaths as much as possible.

Israel is said to be reviewing the incident.

At least 98 Palestinians have been killed since the start of last month, the majority of whom were killed during attempted, alleged, and actual attacks on Israeli military and civilians. The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank for part of a future state.

There were no signs that Kerry made headway in easing tensions during his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The spokesperson added that the soldiers used a Ruger rifle with 0.22 caliber, used by security forces to disperse riots, considered less lethal than ordinary weapons used by the forces.

But a senior Israeli government official said there was no internal division over how to tackle Palestinian violence. Children as young as 11 have stabbed Israelis in the current unrest.

The latest bill passed a preliminary vote, but would require further approvals to become law.