Tensions in Israel flare again as Arab fatally shot by police

JERUSALEM, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Israel is investigating the fatal police shooting of a 22-year-old Arab citizen over the weekend.

Kheir al-Din Hamdan, of Kafr Kanna in Galilee, was shot after he approached a police vehicle wielding a knife, Northern District police said. The officers reporting firing at him in fear for their lives.

In Kafr Kanna, youths threw stones and firebombs at police, blocked a road with burning tires, {link:raised Palestinian flags: "http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/VIDEO-Police-shoot-knife-wielding-man-in-Arab-town-381160" target="_blank"} and threatened an intifada, The New York Times reported.

Israel's Arab minority staged a one-day general strike on Sunday to protest the shooting.

The Justice Ministry was investigating.

The episode follows a tense week in East Jerusalem. Thirty young Palestinian protesters were injured following the death of two Israelis after a Palestinian drove a van into pedestrians at a rail station on Wednesday.

The first clashes between Palestinians and police erupted when the driver was shot dead by police.

The driver was identified by Israeli authorities as a member of Hamas, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

The van crash followed unrest at Temple Mount, where activist Rabbi Yehuda Glick was gravely wounded after agitating for more Jewish rights at the site, where Jews are allowed to gather but not pray. The attacker in that case was also shot dead by police.