Israeli official sources said the Palestinian purposely drove his vehicle into a bus stop on Friday morning, and was shot dead as a result.
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The premier also conditioned Palestinian construction in Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank on global recognition of Israel’s right to build in existing settlement blocks.
Prior to his arrival in Israel, Kerry said on Monday that “too many Israelis have been killed and stabbed, and too many Palestinians”, adding he is trying to “get some concrete steps that would calm things down”, Israeli media outlets reported. The others died in clashes with Israeli forces.
Kerry, whose nine-month peace mediation between the parties collapsed in April 2014, reiterated the American goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Palestinian leaders have accused Israel of excessive force and blamed the violence on Israel’s 48-year-old occupation.
The Israeli victims were lightly injured in the incident near the flashpoint city of Hebron, according to the emergency services.
More than 100 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of October, the majority of whom were killed during attempted, alleged, and actual attacks on Israeli military and civilians.
Five soldiers were wounded in a car-ramming attack near Hebron early Friday afternoon, initial reports indicate.
“We intend to bring a far more massive barrier there”, he said. But the Palestinians say the structure is a land grab, since it places sections of the West Bank on the “Israeli” side. The United States rejected the notion of settlement recognition with “a big no”, a State Department spokesman said.
A senior Israeli official on Thursday was dismissive about the misgivings being sounded by the military, saying there was no internal division over how to tackle Palestinian violence.
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On Wednesday, Israel’s parliament advanced a bill that would allow the jailing of minors younger than 14.
