April 24, 2011

One Israeli has been killed and at least four others have been wounded after a Palestinian policeman opened fire on a group of Israelis on their way to a West Bank biblical shrine inside Palestinian-controlled territory on April 24.

An Israeli military statement said the casualties were part of a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews who had entered the area without the army authorization needed to visit and pray at Joseph's Tomb, on the outskirts of the city of Nablus.

Jews are allowed access to the shrine during one monthly visit coordinated with Palestinian security forces, but ultra-Orthodox Jews often defy the military ban.

The Nablus governor, Jibril Bakri, was quoted as saying Palestinian security forces had first fired warning shots.

compiled from agency reports