Roundup: Violence persists in West Bank, Israeli PM in Germany on quelling tensions

A Palestinian man ran over four Israeli soldiers near Hebron in the West Bank on Wednesday evening, wounding them in varying degrees, the Israeli army said.

The incident took place on route 60 near the Palestinian village of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, where several vehicular attacks have taken place in the past.

Initial investigation said four Israeli soldiers were traveling in a vehicle on the route when stones were hurled at their car. As they left the vehicle, a car driven by a Palestinian rammed into them.

One soldier was wounded in serious condition and three others lightly.

The Palestinian driver was shot and wounded seriously on the site by Israeli security forces who witnessed the attack.

Israeli media outlets reported that clashes ensued at the scene after the attack, with Palestinian protesters hurling stones at Israeli security forces and emergency services.

The attack, along with others by Palestinians against Israelis in the past several days, marks a slight shift in focus of recent attacks from the area of Jerusalem, where many stabbing and vehicular attacks took place in recent weeks.

On Wednesday afternoon, a female Israeli soldier was stabbed and seriously injured at the Adam junction in the West Bank, north of Jerusalem, near the Jewish settlement of Geva Binyamin. Another soldier at the scene shot and killed the attacker. An additional suspect was taken in for questioning.

At noon, an Israeli police officer was hit and lightly injured by a Palestinian car near the settlement of Ofra, north of Ramallah, in a suspected vehicular attack, according to Israeli police. Israeli Walla! News website reported a suspect was captured.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, a 15-year-old Palestinian girl was shot and lightly wounded near the Jewish settlement Itzhar. The Israeli army said she attempted to infiltrate the settlement, armed with a knife.

Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces also continued in West Bank territories throughout the day.

Palestinian media reported a 50-year-old Palestinian die of inhaling smoke from Israeli tear gas, but the Israeli army did not confirm the report.

More than 1,700 Palestinians have been injured during the past several weeks by tear gas, live fire and rubber bullets used by soldiers to disperse riots.

Tensions remained high in southern Israel, along the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday as well.

Palestinians launched a rocket towards southern Israel, hitting an open territory adjacent to the border fence and a nearby Israeli community in Sha'ar Hanegev regional council. No damage or injury was reported, according to the Israeli army.

Earlier, some 20 Palestinians hurled rocks and tried to damage the Gaza Strip border fence, near the El Bureij refugee camp. Soldiers activated riots dispersal gear and live fire, according to the Ynet news website. At least one Palestinian was injured, Palestinian medical sources reported.

The month-long violence started amid uproar over the holy site of the al-Aqsa compound in east Jerusalem, sparking further violence throughout Jerusalem, the West Bank territories, across the country and in the Gaza strip.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for a two-day visit to Germany amid growing international pressure to quell the wave of unrest and prevent further deterioration, as concerns of a third Palestinian Intiafada, or armed uprising, is rising. Two previous intifadas took place in the late 80s and early 2000s respectively.

Netanyahu blames Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for inciting the violence.

He has met with German chancellor Angela Merkel late Wednesday and is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday. Israeli officials said Netanyahu is not willing to provide any gestures of goodwill to the Palestinians in order to promote calm.

In a surprise visit to the region, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged both sides to prevent further escalation, deploring Israel not to use excessive force against Palestinians or other measures that may further provoke anger and continue the current wave of unrest, as no end is in sight for the current wave of violence.

Ban held talks with Netanyahu earlier on Tuesday over defusing the tension that has been going on for three weeks. Officials said he would meet with Abbas in Ramallah and hold a joint news briefing. Endit