RAMALLAH – Israeli forces on early Tuesday killed a young Palestinian man during clashes that followed an arrest operation in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Palestinian sources said that 17-year-old Majd Lahlouh was killed after he was shot in the chest during clashes with Israeli soldiers and Border Guard officers. The clashes continued for a few hours, and three other Palestinians were injured and were evacuated to a local hospital for treatment. The sources said that the after the Israeli forces opened live fire against hundreds of Palestinians hundreds gathered to protest the operation to arrest the Islamic Jihad leader sheikh Bassam al-Sa'di who was released from an Israeli prison just a few months ago. The sources said that the Palestinians threw rocks at the ultra-Orthodox troops. Al-Sa'di and Abdullah Khamayseh were eventually arrested and taken in for questioning by agents of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal intelligence. For her part, the Israeli army spokeswoman said that during a search of Al-Sa'di's home, Palestinians opened fire at the soldiers and hurled Molotov cocktails in their direction, but she could not elaborate on which side had shot first. She added that the troops were instructed to respond by firing at the lower body parts of the Palestinians. Two Israeli soldiers were lightly injured in the clashes, according to the spokeswoman. Talal Dwaikat, the Jenin's Governor, held Israel responsible for the “cold-blooded killing” of Lahlouh. Dwaikat said that “the youth was because of the daily raids of the Israeli occupation forces in Palestinian territories.” The governor said that “Israel aims at escalating the situation in order to prevent reaching a peace agreement.” Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams held a second round of talks last week in occupied Jerusalem on in an attempt to solve the final status issues; Jerusalem, refugees, boundaries, settlements and security. The US hopes Israelis and Palestinians can reach a deal within nine months, though expectations on all sides are low. Israel regularly carries out arrest raids throughout the West Bank, including in areas under full Palestinian Authority (PA)'s security control. The Palestinian Authority (PA) says that the daily Israeli raids in the West Bank cities and villages hinder its security forces to tighten their grip on the Palestinian territories. Israel does not allow the PA to have any security role in specific areas in the West Bank that the 1993 Oslo peace agreement between the two sides classified as C areas, which makes up more than 60 percent of the West Bank lands. According to the recent Palestinian statistics, Israel is holding 5,100 prisoners in 23 prisons and detention camps in Israel and in the West Bank. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insists that prisoners must be freed in line with to the peace agreements reached with Israel.
