RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank: Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian and wounded another early on Thursday near the Occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian emergency services reported. Abdel-Aziz Beerat, 20, was killed when Israeli soldiers in a jeep opened fire in the village of Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, the sources said.

Another man, who was not identified, was shot in the back and taken to hospital, where his condition was listed as serious.

An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers saw the silhouettes of three Palestinians preparing to throw incendiary devices and opened fire after the men ignored an order to surrender.

Beerat was the third Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in three days.

Abdel-Kader Zeid, 17, died after being shot outside the Jewish colony of Beit-El late on Tuesday, medics said. The army said soldiers had opened fire at a man who was brandishing a gasoline bomb.

Mohammad al-Ramahi, 21, died overnight from chest wounds incurred in clashes with Israeli soldiers following Zeid's funeral near the Jalazun refugee camp, Ramallah hospital officials and witnesses said.

An army spokesman said dozens of Palestinians rioted near an army post, hurling rocks and burning tires.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat denounced the violence. 

"It looks as if the Israeli Army has received instructions to carry out an escalation in the Palestinian territories," he said.

Meanwhile, four members of Islamic Jihad were arrested Thursday in the northern West Bank, an army spokeswoman told AFP. "All four were wanted and were arrested for questioning. Two bombs, each with 20 kilograms of explosives, were found in their possession and defused," she said. - AFP