Israeli army kills Palestinian in West Bank

By Awad Rajoub and Qais Abu Samra

JERUSALEM (AA) - A Palestinian was shot dead Tuesday by the Israeli army for allegedly trying to carry out a stabbing attack in the occupied West Bank.

Palestine's Health Ministry told Anadolu Agency that the Palestinian Civil Liaison Department -- the official contact point with Israel in civil affairs -- informed it of "the martyrdom of a Palestinian who was fatally shot by the occupation [Israeli army] south of Bethlehem."

In a statement, the Israeli army said: "There were reports that a stabbing operation was foiled at the Gush Etzion Junction -- located between Bethlehem and Hebron southern of the West Bank -- and the Palestinian was shot."

For his part, Muhammad Awad, an activist in the settlement resistance field identified the martyr as Ahed Al-Khalil, 35, from the town of Beit Ummar, Hebron.

He added that after the incident, the Israeli intelligence service summoned his father and three of his second-degree relatives to the Etzion center for investigation.

Awad pointed out that Israeli forces closed all entrances to the town and prevented entry and exit.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara