A Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead on Friday by Israeli soldiers during a weekly demonstration against the construction of Israeli separation wall in the West Bank, medics and witnesses said.

The witnesses said the Palestinian was killed during the demonstration in the village of Na'lein, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, adding that at least five Palestinian demonstrators were injured.

The medics said Yousef Srour, 36, died of his wounds in the chest shortly after he was rushed to Ramallah governmental hospital, adding that five others were injured by gunshots and dozens inhaled tear gas.

Witnesses said the residents of Na'lein as well as local and foreign peace activists arranged the weekly demonstration against the Israeli confiscation of lands and the construction of the separation wall in the region.

The demonstration was confronted by Israeli soldiers and border police, they said, adding that the soldiers opened fire and threw tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.

Ra'ed Radwan, secretary general of Fatah movement in Ramallah told reporters "we came here to protest the Israeli policy of expanding settlements and against the construction of the wall."

"The peaceful popular resistance is one of the ways of struggle and we will continue with this strategy until the end of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories," said Radwan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2009)