Jewish Settlers Reportedly Kill 1 Palestinian

Jewish settlers shot and killed one Palestinian and wounded another during a clash today with Arab villagers who charged that the Israelis had vandalized homes and beat residents, villagers and hospital officials said.

At least seven Palestinians were injured in clashes with the army during demonstrations that erupted in several West Bank towns, hospital and Palestinian sources said.

Residents of Shuyukh, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, said five or six Jewish settlers entered the village at mid-morning and broke into several homes. The settlers then began beating people with sticks, said residents, who brought the wounded villagers to Alia Hospital in Hebron.

A large crowd, including residents of nearby Sa’ir, gathered and began throwing rocks at the settlers who opened fire with rifles, the residents said. Mustapha Ahmed Halikeh, 20, was killed and a 15-year-old boy was shot in the left arm, hospital officials said.

The villagers said the settlers apparently entered the village on foot. Israeli troops, who entered the area to restore order, fired tear gas, injuring two women.

A police spokesman for the southern West Bank district said that it was not clear what had happened and that the incident was under investigation. An army spokesman said Israeli troops were not in the area at the time of the shootings.

Palestinians today observed the first day of the three-day general strike to protest the latest Middle East peace mission by U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz.