*JERUSALEM: Two Israelis soldiers were killed and two others injured when aPalestinian rammed a car into a group of troops in the occupied West Bankon Friday, the Israeli army said.*

The four were struck when the car ploughed into their group close to thesettlement of Mevo Dotan near Jenin in the northern West Bank.

The army said the two killed were an officer and a soldier, without namingthem.

One of the two injured was in severe condition, the army statement added,saying their families had been informed.

The attacker was arrested and taken to the hospital, the army said.

He was named as Alaa Kabha, born in 1991, with the army saying it hadimmediately rescinded the permits of 67 of his family members to work inIsrael.

Tensions were high on Friday after Palestinian movement Hamas called for aday of rage to commemorate 100 days since US President Donald Trump’scontroversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Palestinians also see the city as their capital and Trump’s recognitionbroke with decades of US policy that the status of the city would benegotiated between the parties.

At least 31 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed since Trump’sannouncement, which set off major protests.

Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility for it.

“This revolution against the Trump decision and the occupation is not awave of anger but an ongoing action until our people are totally free,”said Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, theUnited States, and others.

Palestinian attacks are often attributed to frustration with Israel’s50-year occupation.

Israel accuses Palestinian officials of encouraging such attacks throughincitement and refusing to accept Israel’s existence.

The events come ahead of what could be a tense few months, with a number ofsignificant dates that may spark tension.

Uppermost among them is the inauguration of the new American embassy inJerusalem on May 14, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israel’sfounding.

President Trump has said he will attend if he can.

On May 15, Palestinians recognise the Nakba, or catastrophe, commemoratingthe fleeing of hundreds of thousands of people in the 1948 war that led tothe creation of Israel.

Around 400,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements that are consideredillegal by the United Nations.

Around 2.6 million Palestinians live in the same area. – APP /AFP