Israel Police Wound Palestinian Driver who Attacked Officers

A member of Israeli armed forces is seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. (Reuters)
A member of Israeli armed forces is seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. (Reuters)
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Israel Police Wound Palestinian Driver who Attacked Officers

A member of Israeli armed forces is seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. (Reuters)
A member of Israeli armed forces is seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. (Reuters)

Israeli police said an officer shot and wounded a Palestinian driver who attempted to run over and stab Israeli security personnel in the West Bank on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said the man attempted to ram his car into a soldier and a police officer at an intersection near the West Bank city of Nablus.

The police said in a statement that the officer shot the Palestinian after he came out of the vehicle and ran at the officers with a knife.

The soldier and the policeman were lightly wounded while the attacker was moderately wounded, the army said.

Security camera footage from the incident published by Israeli media showed a silver vehicle appearing to accelerate and collide with a parked police car.

Palestinians and human rights groups have frequently accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force.



Syria Unable to Import Wheat or Fuel Due to US Sanctions, Trade Minister Says

Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
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Syria Unable to Import Wheat or Fuel Due to US Sanctions, Trade Minister Says

Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)

Syria is unable to make deals to import fuel, wheat or other key goods due to strict US sanctions and despite many countries wanting to do so, Syria's new trade minister said.

In an interview with Reuters at his office in Damascus, Maher Khalil al-Hasan said Syria's new ruling administration had managed to scrape together enough wheat and fuel for a few months but the country faces a "catastrophe" if sanctions are not frozen or lifted soon.

Hasan is a member of the new caretaker government set up by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group after it launched a lightning offensive that toppled autocratic President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 after 13 years of civil war.

The sanctions were imposed during Assad's rule, targeting his government and also state institutions such as the central bank.

Russia and Iran, both major backers of the Assad government, previously provided most of Syria's wheat and oil products but both stopped doing so after the opposition factions triumphed and Assad fled to Moscow.

The US is set to announce an easing of restrictions on providing humanitarian aid and other basic services such as electricity to Syria while maintaining its strict sanctions regime, people briefed on the matter told Reuters on Monday.

The exact impact of the expected measures remains to be seen.

The decision by the outgoing Biden administration aims to send a signal of goodwill to Syria's people and its new rulers, and pave the way for improving basic services and living conditions in the war-ravaged country.

Washington wants to see Damascus embark on an inclusive political transition and to cooperate on counterterrorism and other matters.

Hasan told Reuters he was aware of reports that some sanctions may soon be eased or frozen.