Israeli officer shoots dead alleged Palestinian assailant in West Bank

JERUSALEM, Jan 5- An Israeli security officer shot a Palestinian who threw a knife towards him in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Israel’s military said, and Palestinian officials said the man had been killed. Israel captured and occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians seek the territory for a future state that would include the Gaza…

JERUSALEM, Jan 5 (Reuters) – An Israeli security officer

shot a Palestinian who threw a knife towards him in the occupied

West Bank on Tuesday, Israel’s military said, and Palestinian

officials said the man had been killed.

The incident occurred at a road junction situated near acluster of Israeli settlements southwest of the Palestinian townof Bethlehem, the military said in a statement.

“(A) community security officer spotted a suspectapproaching the junction. Following the suspicion, the securityofficer and an IDF (Israeli military) soldier operated to stopthe suspect by firing into the air,” the statement said.

“The suspect threw a knife at the officer, who respondedwith fire and neutralised the suspect,” the statement added.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the man’s death,but said it did not have details of his identity.

Israel captured and occupied the West Bank in the 1967Middle East War. Palestinians seek the territory for a futurestate that would include the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.(Reporting by Rami AyyubEditing by Mark Heinrich)