Ramallah - Israeli soldiers shot dead a young Palestinian near the West Bank city of Ramallah early Thursday as he was about to throw a fire bomb at them, the third Palestinian death under similar circumstances in as many days.

A second Palestinian was injured when soldiers opened fire during a raid in the village of Kufr Malik, west of Ramallah, Voice of Palestine Radio reported.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the soldiers opened fire at two of three Palestinians who were holding fire bombs, which they were about to throw at the troops. She said the two had already lit their bottles.

A 22-year-old Palestinian from Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, meanwhile died late Wednesday night of wounds sustained when soldiers stationed at nearby Beit El military camp opened fire on stone-throwing Palestinians after the funeral of a 17-year-old Jalazoun resident killed the night before in almost identical circumstances.

The Israeli military said dozens of Palestinians had gathered after the funeral and were lighting tyres and throwing stones at an Israeli army outpost located near the Jewish settlement of Beit El.

The 22-year-old was also holding a Molotov cocktail which he had already lit and was ready to throw at the troops Wednesday evening, the spokeswoman said. Hospital sources said he was shot in the chest.

The 17-year-old whose funeral he had been attending was also shot while approaching the same settlement of Beit El with two others, while holding lit fire bombs.

The Israeli military says petrol bottles can set tanks and military vehicles on fire when thrown inside. dpa( )