Jewish settlers stabbed a Palestinian boy to death in the Israeli-occupied West Bank today, witnesses said.
They said the 12-year-old was ambushed by several settlers near his home at Qaryot village outside the Palestinian-ruled city of Nablus. He was stabbed 11 times, medics said.
Palestinians who seek statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have complained of frequent harrassment and attacks by settlers during nearly five years of fighting.
About 240,000 settlers live among 3.6 million Palestinians, and have themselves come under regular attack by gunmen and suicide bombers spearheading a Palestinian uprising.
Settler resentment has been running especially high because of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to quit Gaza and a corner of the West Bank next month in what he calls "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians.
Palestinians welcome any Israeli withdrawals from occupied land but fear Mr Sharon plans to leave them tiny Gaza while keeping major West Bank settlement blocs.
An Israeli police spokesman said the Qaryout stabbing was under investigation.