Palestinian shot dead while trying to plant bomb, Israeli army says

A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers early Sunday as he and an accomplice attempted to place a roadside bomb near a Jewish settlement just south of Jerusalem, army officials said.

A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers early Sunday as he and an accomplice attempted to place a roadside bomb near a Jewish settlement just south of Jerusalem, army officials said.

The other man escaped in the incident near Har Gilo, said an army spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity said. No additional details were immediately available.

In recent weeks, stone-throwing clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli troops have declined. However, Palestinian militants planted several roadside bombs, and gunmen have increasingly targeted Israeli cars traveling on the roads of the West Bank.

In an attempt to stem the drive-by shooting attacks, Israel's army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, has forbidden private cars carrying only Palestinian men from traveling into different parts of the West Bank. The ban will not apply to taxis and trucks, Israeli army radio said.

The Israeli army currently controls entry and exit points to major cities and towns in the West Bank, and Palestinians were already facing tight restrictions on their movements before the latest move.

Israel imposed a general closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip shortly after the fighting broke out, which banned Palestinians from entering Israel.

Palestinian gunmen on Friday opened fire on a van carrying Israelis to the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba near Hebron. A 39-year-old school teacher and mother of six, as well as the driver, were killed.

Meanwhile, a Jewish settler was arrested for allegedly shooting a 13-year-old Palestinian boy in the stomach on Saturday, said Israeli police spokesman Rafi Yafe. He did not name the man who was taken into custody.

The youth, Mansur Dshaber, was hit near Hebron, according to Dshaber's uncle, Ata Dshaber. The Israeli army sent a helicopter to evacuate the youth to a Jerusalem hospital.

The shooting took place as a group of settlers took over Ata Dshaber's house, though they were forcibly removed later by police and soldiers, the police spokesman said.