Israeli policeman aiming his weapon.

Bedouin driver, Israeli policeman killed at demolition protest

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.