Palestinian driver shot dead in West Bank after ramming bus stop

A Palestinian driver was shot dead after ramming his car into a bus stop in the occupied West Bank, injuring four people. Paramilitary police troopers shot the man dead, an Israeli police spokeswoman said.

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu will discuss the recent violence in the region at White House talks this week. Since October 1st, 11 Israelis have been killed in street attacks by Palestinians, motivated in part by Muslim agitation at stepped-up Jewish visits to a contested Jerusalem holy site and by deadlocked US-backed peace-making efforts.

Israeli forces have killed at least 72 Palestinians, including 43 who Israel says were carrying out or about to carry out attacks with knives, guns or cars. Many were teenagers. Palestinians question whether all of those killed posed a lethal threat and have accused the Israelis of excessive force.

Briefing his cabinet before going to Washington, where he will be hosted by US president Barack Obama today, Netanyahu alluded to stalled Palestinian statehood negotiations.

On the agenda of the White House talks, Netanyahu said, would be “possible progress with the Palestinians, or at least, stabilising the situation when it comes to them”.