Palestinian media: man killed by Israeli forces as tensions continue

A Palestinian man was allegedly shot by Israeli forces today. The Palestinian Authority’s news outlet WAFA reported that Israeli forces killed Saddam Bani Odeh during an arrest operation in Tubas in the northeast West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment on the incident.

There have been other violent episodes in the West Bank and Jerusalem recently. On Saturday, a group of Jews assaulted Arabs in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood of East Jerusalem, according to the Gaza-based news outlet Shehab. On Friday, unknown individuals threw stones and firecrackers at a vehicle in what one right-wing Jewish organization called a “lynching,” The Times of Israel reported. On Nov. 10, Israeli settlers allegedly shot bullets at Palestinian residents in Khallet ad-Daba’a in the southern West Bank, according to an article in the left-wing Israeli outlet +972 Magazine.

Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 war. Most of the population is Palestinian, but more than 400,000 Israeli settlers also live in the territory. Most of the international community and the United Nations regard the West Bank as Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, though Israel disputes this. Israel controls the West Bank’s border, while internal control is divided between the Israeli military and the Palestinian Authority.

Jerusalem is completely controlled and governed by Israel, but Palestinians envision East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Some countries, including the United States, recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Others do not and consider East Jerusalem as Palestinian territory.

Attacks by Israeli settlers are not new and cause much tension in the West Bank.

Israeli and Palestinian officials regularly dispute the circumstances surrounding Israeli forces shooting Palestinian civilians.

The incidents today and over the weekend followed the head of Israel’s internal security organization Shin Bet reportedly meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week. Ronen Bar spoke to the Palestinian leader about security cooperation, according to Israeli media.