Palestinian killed after ramming Israel base

Officials say man shot dead after he drove a tractor through gate of a military base in the occupied West Bank.

Map jerusalem

Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian after he rammed a mechanical digger through the gate of an army base in the occupied West Bank, the military and Palestinian security officials said.

An army spokeswoman said he was shot on Thursday when he crashed a tractor through the perimeter fence of the camp.

The Palestinians said Yusef Ahmed al-Radaydeh, 30, died of his wounds in an Israeli hospital.

They said he was the brother of Mirii al-Radaydeh, shot dead by Jerusalem police in March 2009 after he rammed a bulldozer into a bus and a police car, injuring two patrolmen.

The army said Thursday’s incident occurred at a base in the neighbourhood of Al-Ram, adjacent to occupied East Jerusalem, but did not confirm media reports that he died of his wounds.

State-run Channel One television said that the man initially stopped at the gate to ask a guard to let him in and when the soldier turned away to seek authorisation, he drove into the fence.

Eight other Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli troops and three Israelis have been killed in clashes and shootings since July.

Source: News Agencies