Palestinian Kills Israeli Soldier, Is Slain by Farmer

MASSUA, Occupied West Bank —  A Palestinian worker angry over unpaid wages killed a soldier on guard duty at a Jewish settlement today and an Israeli farmer shot the assailant to death, witnesses reported.

The Palestinian, identified as Ahmad Basharat, 21, shouted “Allahu Akbar”--”God is great”--as he stabbed the soldier, said settlers at the Massua cooperative farm 26 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

Army spokesmen also confirmed that a Palestinian woman was shot to death today in a West Bank village.

Arab sources said 18 Palestinians were wounded in clashes between protesters and soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where a revolt against Israeli occupation began last Dec. 8 among the 1.5 million Palestinian residents.

Eleven Israelis and at least 309 Palestinians have been killed in the violence. The guard at Massua was the second soldier killed.

According to the army, the 21-year-old attacker approached the soldier about 9 a.m., drew a knife and “stabbed him repeatedly, at least a dozen times.”

Tanya Ben-Ami reported seeing the attack from the nearby farm office. “In the beginning there was a struggle,” she said. “In the end, (Basharat) just kept stabbing all the time. He didn’t stop.”

She said a farmer on leave from army reserve duty was with her, ran to get his gun and opened fire after the Palestinian picked up a chair and threatened him. Ben-Ami said the farmer “didn’t have a choice. He shot him.”

Settlers said the Palestinian attacked after the soldier requested additional identification. The army spokesman said he had worked at the farm and was angry about not receiving back pay of 170 shekels, or about $100.