Israeli troops kill Palestinian in West Bank raid

JENIN, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli soldiers shot dead a
teenage Palestinian stone-thrower on Wednesday during a West
Bank raid in which they detained a wanted Islamic Jihad
militant, local residents and medical officials said.

An Israeli military source said troops shot at gunmen who
fired at them during the operation in the city of Jenin, a
militant stronghold.

Medical officials said three Palestinians were wounded by
Israeli gunfire and one of them, a 17-year-old, died later in
hospital. Local residents said that along with dozens of other
youngsters, he had been throwing rocks at the soldiers.

“A wanted Islamic Jihad terrorist was arrested in Jenin in
a joint Israel Defense Forces and police operation,” the army
said in a statement.

“The force encircled the structure in which the wanted
terrorist was hiding and called for him to exit. The terrorist
exited the structure a short while later and surrendered,” it
said.

During the raid, Palestinian gunmen detonated three
explosive devices and opened fire at the Israeli force several
times, slightly wounding two soldiers, the statement added.

Two weeks ago, Islamic Jihad carried out a suicide bombing
in central Israel that killed five Israelis. Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon said afterwards he ordered Israeli forces to wage
a “relentless attack” against the group.

Islamic Jihad is sworn to Israel’s destruction and has
helped spearhead a 4-1/2-year-old Palestinian revolt. It has
chafed at a truce declared by Sharon and Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas in February.