An Israeli border policeman shot dead one Palestinian and wounded another in the occupied West Bank yesterday when they drove towards officers, an army spokeswoman said.
The officers had been carrying out a search operation in Al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, during which they uncovered an arms workshop, when they spotted the vehicle coming towards them, the spokeswoman said.
One of the border policemen, who “felt in danger”, opened fire, she added.
A third Palestinian in the vehicle was arrested.
Israeli security forces have launched a major crackdown on underground arms workshops in the West Bank, closing 16 since the start of the year, a senior army officer said on Tuesday.
A wave of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories since October last year has has killed at least 215 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese.
Some of the Palestinians were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces detained at least 14 Palestinians yesterday, including a woman and a minor, during predawn raids across the West Bank.
According to security sources, seven Palestinians were detained from Jerusalem district, five others from Hebron, another from Bethlehem and another from Tulkarem, state news agency (WAFA) reported.
Israeli forces conducted a large-scale detention raid across the Jerusalem town of Al-Issawiya, detaining seven Palestinians.
In the southern West Bank district of Hebron, the forces raided Dura town, south of Hebron, detaining five Palestinians after breaking into and ransacking their houses and causing property damages.
During the predawn raid, troops stormed and thoroughly searched many houses, blowing up some of their main doors and causing extensive property damages.
In Bethlehem, the forces detained one Palestinian after storming his family house in Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem city.
Meanwhile, troops raided Shweika neighborhood, north of Tulkarem, detaining one after storming his family house.