Tensions up in West Bank after Israeli killed near settlement

RAMALLAH/SALFIT, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army Sunday deployed around Bruqin village near northern West Bank city of Salfit and cordoned off the entire area after one Israeli was killed near Ariel settlement ahead of a possible manhunt in the area.

According to Israeli reports, at least one Israeli soldier was killed and two others were seriously wounded after a man attacked soldiers at the junction of Ariel settlement and took over his gun, opened fir against others in two nearby locations and ran away.

Israeli sources said the perpetrator is a Palestinian.

Palestinian sources said that Israeli troops cordoned off the village of Bruqin to the West of Salfit city amidst increasing tensions, patrolled and blocked the routes linking to the north of the West Bank.

Ariel settlement, one of the largest Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank, was built on the lands belonging to the Salfit district, some 16.5 kilometers away from the Green line. It is the only one that includes a university.

Israeli settlement activity, deemed illegal by most world powers and under the international law, is considered one of the thorniest issues that hindered the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israeli. It continues to be one of the main issues of disagreement since the stop of the peace talks in 2014.