Palestinian shot to death at Israeli checkpoint near Jerusalem

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RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A 46-year-old Palestinian was shot to death early Monday and three others were wounded when Israeli soldiers manning a checkpoint east of Jerusalem opened fire at a vehicle transporting West Bank workers to Israel, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.

Palestinian medical sources said three people in their 20s were brought to the Ramallah hospital with bullet wounds to the arms and legs. Their injuries were reported moderate.

Akram Badr, from the Ramallah area village of Betillo, died on his way to an Israeli hospital after he was shot in the chest.

An Israeli police spokeswoman said “border guards opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle that failed to stop when ordered to do so at al-Zayyem checkpoint east of Jerusalem at around 1 a.m.”

Passengers in the vehicle denied the Israeli statement, saying shots were fired at the car without warning and after the driver attempted to turn back before he had reached the checkpoint.

Palestinian Authority officials denounced the shooting. ‘This incident would not have happened if it was not for the fact that Israel occupies our land and has all these checkpoints,” Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said.

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