Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian dead

Ramallah: A Palestinian youth was shot dead and another wounded Wednesday night by Israeli soldiers at an army roadblock to the south the West Bank city of Bethlehem, said paramedics.

The shooting took place at Gush Itzion crossroad south of Bethlehem when Israeli soldiers at the roadblock opened fire at two Palestinians, killing one and seriously wounding the other, Xinhua reported citing the the source.

Mohamed Awad, director of emergency at the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that a Palestinian youth was killed and another critically wounded by Israeli troops south of Bethlehem.

Israeli police said the two Palestinians were trying to steal cars belonging to Israeli settlers, according to initial Israeli media reports which quoted one of the Israeli soldiers at the roadblock as saying.

However, local residents said that the two Palestinians were critically wounded at first, adding that they were left bleeding until one of them died of his wounds.

These soldiers guarding the roadblock are in panic all the time, and would fire at anything moving or any Palestinian walks in areas closed to them, they described.