Palestinian shot and killed by Israeli in central West Bank - report

A Palestinian man was shot and killed by an Israeli near the town of Karawat Bani Hassan, northwest of Ariel, on Saturday, according to Palestinian reports.

The Palestinian, identified as Mithqal Suleiman Abdel Halim Rayan, 27, was fighting with a number of Israeli settlers who had entered the village when he was shot by one of them, according to the reports. Palestinian reports claimed that the Israelis entered the village and vandalized property.

After receiving a report about clashes between dozens of Israelis and Palestinians at the site, IDF soldiers arrived at the scene and began using riot dispersal methods and shooting in the air.

Israel Police will investigate

The IDF is aware of the report of a Palestinian being injured, but the individual was taken away from the scene before the soldiers arrived. Israel Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

According to the Samaria Regional Council, about 25 residents of Havot Yair neighborhood were walking near the neighborhood when dozens of Palestinians began throwing stones and launching fireworks toward them.

The settlers called for help from the army who were only able to arrive half an hour later due to the difficult terrain. According to the regional council, one of the settlers fired in the air during the incident.

After Shabbat ended, Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, held a situation assessment with the leadership of the neighborhood and security officials.

Dagan announced that he completely supported the settler who fired the shot, stating "I fully support the citizen who defended his life and the lives of the travelers, the resident who acted appropriately when he defended his life from a riotous and rampaging mob of terrorists."

"This situation where Israelis cannot walk on Shabbat morning near their home without fearing for their lives is intolerable and cannot be continued," added Dagan. "This incident joins the incident that took place on Friday night in the same area, possibly also with the same rioters who broke into the farm next to the Havot Yair and violently attacked a resident of the place on a nationalistic basis. Had it not been for her resourcefulness with an agricultural tool and the arrival of an emergency squad at the scene, the incident could have ended completely differently and tonight we would have found ourselves at the funeral of a resident."

On Friday night, the IDF arrested two Palestinians in Karawat Bani Hassan as part of Operation Break the Wave.