An Israeli policeman was killed yesterday while taking part in an operation to demolish homes in an Arab village, with authorities saying he was targeted in a car-ramming attack.
The driver was shot dead by police in Umm al-Heiran in southern Israel.
Residents of the Bedouin village in the Negev desert disputed the police version of events, saying Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan was heading to the scene to talk with authorities in an attempt to halt the demolitions.
The policeman was identified as Erez Levi, 34.
Israeli Arab MP Ayman Odeh was also injured in the head by police during the confrontation, a parliamentary aide who was with him said.
Police said Mr Qiyan was active in the Israeli Islamic Movement and may have been influenced by Islamic State — a claim residents strongly denied.
“A vehicle driven by a terrorist from the Islamic Movement intended to strike a number of officers and carry out an attack,” spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. “The officers responded and the terrorist was neutralised.
Read the full article by AP at The Australian.