Tensions Flare After Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian At West Bank Checkpoint

[Purveyor]

Israeli military forces shot and killed a Palestinian man Sunday as he approached a checkpoint in Nablus holding a bottle. The shooting came less than 48 hours after a Palestinian woman died after inhaling a large quantity of tear gas at a demonstration in the West Bank.

While violence is not unusual in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, the two deaths have drawn much attention coming at a period of relative quiet. Palestinian officials have said the incidents severely damaged the peace process.

“The Israeli escalation in the last two days is aimed at demolishing any hope of a peace process, and we ask the US administration and the international community to take necessary steps to stop the dangerous escalation against the area,” said Nabil Abu Rudeina, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’ spokesman, in an article by Agence France-Presse.

Israeli authorities allege that Mohammed Daraghmeh entered an unauthorized lane of the checkpoint at Nablus holding a bottle. While initial media reports say that he tried to stab a soldier, Israeli military officials say that they did not find a knife on Mr. Daraghmeh and they have not confirmed that his bottle was broken.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0102/Tensions-flare-after-Israeli-forces-kill-Palestinian-at-West-Bank-checkpoint

[patrice]

1. K&R