Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in clashes, knife attacker killed

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian during clashes in the occupied West Bank Tuesday and another was killed trying to stab a soldier, the Palestinian health ministry and Israeli army said.

"Young man killed after being shot in the chest by (Israeli) forces in Beit Jala," a ministry statement said, referring to a town south of Jerusalem in the West Bank.

It later identified him as 21-year-old Suror Ahmad Abu Suror from Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hospital sources said a second person was shot in the leg during the clashes.

Meanwhile near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, a Palestinian attempted to stab an Israeli soldier and was shot dead, the Israeli military said, the latest in more than three months of such attacks.

"A Palestinian attacker, armed with a knife, attempted to stab a soldier securing the Beit Hanoun junction near Hebron," a statement said. "Responding to the imminent threat, forces at the scene fired towards the assailant, resulting in his death."

Twenty-three Israelis and an American have been killed in Palestinian attacks including stabbings, car rammings and gunfire since October 1. An Eritrean was also killed.

At the same time, 148 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks.

Photo: Israeli Security Forces' are seen during clashes after a demonstration protesting the killing of a Palestinian young man at an Israeli checkpoint (telegraph.co.uk)