West Bank car ramming wounds 4 Israeli soldiers

Four Israeli soldiers were injured on Thursday in a Palestinian car ramming in the northern West Bank, the army said, the latest incident in more than two months of attacks.

"A suspect rammed his car into a group of soldiers before hitting a military vehicle, wounding four," the military said in an English-language statement.

It did not give the extent of their injuries, but Israeli rescue services said that one was severely injured and the other three were lightly wounded.

The army said the incident took place near the Jewish settlement of Beit Aryeh.

Israeli police said the suspect vehicle was later found abandoned nearby, adjacent to the Palestinian village of Luban al-Sharqiyah.

Police said an assault rifle belonging to one of the targeted soldiers was found in the car, after apparently being flung through a window by the impact of the collision.

Since October 1, almost daily attacks and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers have killed 113 on the Palestinian side, 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

US President Barack Obama used a White House visit by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday to call for steps to prevent a deeper crisis between Israel and the Palestinians.

"I've been very clear in condemning the violence that is recurring inside of Israel, the need for leaders like (Palestinian) president (Mahmud) Abbas to unequivocally condemn the violence that has been taking place and the need to end incitement," Obama said.

The spike in violence has left Washington policymakers worried that the Palestinian Authority may collapse and that more frustrated Palestinians will turn to violence.
Source: AFP