Palestinian shot dead in attempted West Bank car-ramming

No Israelis wounded as driver tries to mow down troops outside settlement; 2 soldiers lightly hurt in West Bank protest

A Palestinian attacker was shot dead Friday afternoon as he tried to drive his car into Israeli security forces at the entrance to the settlement of Ofra in the northern West Bank.

A Magen David Adom team sent to the scene said that no Israelis had been wounded in the attempted attack, Channel 2 television reported. The driver’s death was confirmed at the scene.

Initial reports said that the driver hit a concrete barrier and the soldiers there managed to scatter seconds before the impact. The troops then opened fire on the vehicle. The IDF said that the attack took place during widespread riots at the adjacent village of Silwad.

The attack came some two hours after a Palestinian was shot and wounded as he tried to drive his car into security forces at the Qalandia crossing near Ramallah. No Israelis were hurt in the incident.

Also Friday, two IDF soldiers were lightly hurt during violent riots near the West Bank village of Anata, near Jerusalem, the Ynet news website said.

The soldiers, who were hit by stones, were evacuated for medical treatment in Jerusalem, while the remaining troops at the scene used riot dispersal measures to clear the crowd.

Dozens of Palestinians also protested in the Gaza Strip on Friday, gathering at the Gazan side of the Erez border crossing into Israel. Troops at the crossing also deployed riot dispersal measures.

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