Israeli guards shoot Palestinian who did not stop at crossing

Israeli guards fearful of an attack shot and wounded a Palestinian on Wednesday after she did not stop at a crossing, officials said, the latest incident in an upsurge of violence.

The Palestinian's intentions were not immediately clear and details were still emerging of the incident.

The incident occurred at a checkpoint near the Israeli settlement of Alfei Menashe and the Palestinian town of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian health ministry described her as a "girl," but had no further details on her identity. It said she had been shot and described her wounds as moderate.

Palestinian media described her as a teenager.

The Israeli defence ministry said she had approached the crossing by foot while carrying a bag.

"Crossing security officials called to her to stop and fired warning shots into the air," it said in a statement.

"She continued toward the crossing and security officials fired warning shots toward the ground in order to stop her."

It provided no further details. A ministry spokeswoman declined to comment further, including on whether any weapons were discovered.

A new surge of violence began on Friday after Palestinians wrapped up the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha and as Israel tightened security ahead of major Jewish holidays in October.

There have been nine attacks or attempted attacks by Palestinians against Israelis since then, according to Israeli authorities.

The upsurge has shattered several weeks of relative calm.

The attacks have included one on Monday in which a Palestinian stabbed two Israeli police officers outside Jerusalem's Old City, leaving one in serious condition and another moderately wounded.

The assailant in that case was shot and seriously wounded.

Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a main cause of the violence.

Source: AFP