Ramallah - Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian near the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar, south of the West Bank city of Nablus, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.

The Israeli army said the Palestinian attempted to throw a fire bomb at them when they opened fire at him killing him instantly, according to Israel radio.

Palestinians, who were able to retrieve the body, did not verify the army's report but confirmed that the Israeli army had turned over to them the body of a Palestinian shot near Nablus. (dpa)