Palestinian shot dead by Israeli troops

Ides, from the West Bank city of Hebron, was shot and killed last week while trying to stab soldiers near a checkpoint with a screwdriver.

Two other Palestinians were killed in two other incidents, including an attack by a motorist on Israeli troops, with one soldier lightly wounded.

“In this connection we reaffirm the need for refraining from any unilateral steps that might further complicate Palestinian-Israeli relations and put a question mark over the principle of double-state settlement of the Palestinian problem, approved by the global community, including Israel”, the Foreign Ministry said. Many of the Palestinians killed have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli security forces during clashes.

The agency added that Hamas’ military wing is in charge of these efforts to carry out attacks, which “would have resulted in many casualties and cause a significant escalation in the security situation”, the Shin Bet added.

Violence has also been triggered by Muslim anger over stepped-up Israeli visits to Jerusalem’s al Aqsa mosque complex.

Meanwhile, a bill that would impose new regulations on Israeli non-profit groups that receive funds from foreign governments has won ministerial approval, a move critics said targets pro-Palestinian organisations.

Critics say the legislation is discriminatory because it is mainly groups that oppose the right-wing government’s policies towards Palestinians which receive money from foreign governments and the European Union.

“Destroying homes is an old/new Israeli policy that is used to empty Palestinian lands of Palestinians and replace them with [illegal Jewish] settlers”, the report noted. “There is no need to pay global prices for a process that does not have great significance”, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

More than half the units are for construction east of the security barrier and include more than 8,000 units in the controversial E1 area, two new settlements and the legalization of at least six outposts, said the report, which was issued Monday.