Palestinian Is Reported Slain in West Bank

NABLUS, West Bank —  Hundreds of Israeli soldiers searched for suspects Saturday in this city described as a hotbed of militant activity, fatally shooting a Palestinian during a clash with stone throwers, Palestinian witnesses and medical workers said.

Also Saturday, several thousand Palestinians, joined by dozens of foreigners, demonstrated in the northern West Bank town of Kalkilya against a massive barrier that Israel is building in the West Bank. Kalkilya’s governor, Mustafa Malki, said the town of 30,000 people, just across the border from Israel, has been turned into a large prison by the barrier.

Meanwhile, about 250 people demonstrated Saturday night at the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

Protesters criticized the building of the controversial barrier and the shooting of an Israeli who joined a demonstration Friday near Kalkilya, Army Radio reported.

The crowd blocked a major road in Tel Aviv before being forcibly removed by police. At least seven people were arrested, police said.

Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon visited a seriously injured protester, Gil Naamati, in a hospital and said Friday’s incident should not have happened, Channel Two TV reported. The army has opened an investigation of the shooting, which drew harsh criticism in Israel.

In Nablus, more than 50,000 Palestinians were forced to stay in their homes Saturday for the second day as an Israeli crackdown continued.

Many schools did not open. Tanks patrolled the streets and troops went from house to house, searching for militants. Dozens of people were detained for questioning, residents said.

The army said it was investigating the reported death in Nablus, but it denied that it had used live fire at the time of the incident. Witnesses said the man was shot in the back as Palestinians threw stones at a tank.

In a nearby village, a 13-year-old Palestinian was seriously injured during a clash when he was shot twice in the stomach, Palestinian rescue officials said.

Later Saturday, soldiers shot and hit a Palestinian gunman who had fired at them, the army said. The gunman’s condition wasn’t immediately known.

Israel launched the operation more than a week ago in Nablus, focusing on the Balata refugee camp. It intensified its searches after a suicide bomber from the area carried out an attack Thursday in a Tel Aviv suburb, killing four Israelis.