Israeli soldiers accidentally kill Jewish settler rabbiNovember 11, 2011 - 14:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Israeli soldier killed a Jewish settler rabbi in the occupied West Bank on Friday after mistaking him for a Palestinian militant as he drove to dawn prayers, the army and settler leaders said. Troops set up a checkpoint near Beit Hagai settlement after receiving reports of a car "driving suspiciously," and one of them opened fire on the speeding vehicle after it failed to heed orders to halt, the army said in a statement. The soldier "felt his life was in danger," it said. Palestinians fighting for statehood in the West Bank have used vehicles for attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers. Two other people in the car were wounded in the shooting, a military spokesman said. An Israeli soldier was also injured when he was accidentally hit by a truck passing the scene. Mansbach was among the founders of nearby Ottniel settlement, its spokesman, Yehuda Glick, told Israel's Army Radio. Glick said the rabbi and the two others in his car were driving to early morning prayers in Hebron, revered by Jews and Muslims as the burial site of biblical patriarchs. Some 500,000 Israelis and 2.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. Many settlers practice Orthodox Judaism, Reuters reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |