Israel destroys home of Palestinian teenager who attacked settlers

Israeli forces have demolished the home of a Palestinian teenager who allegedly attacked Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army said on Tuesday it had destroyed the family home of Mohammed Dar Youssef in the village of Kobar, north of Ramallah.

Dar Youssef, 17, was shot dead by a resident of the Adam settlement, south east of the city, after he stabbed three Israelis, one fatally, according to Israeli authorities.

Some violence broke out on Tuesday between Palestinians protesting the demolition and soldiers in the West Bank during the early hours of the morning, the military and witnesses said.

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Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Twitter on Tuesday he had kept the promise made to the widow and other relatives of Yotam Ovadia, who was fatally stabbed in the Adam attack, to destroy the house quickly.

The stabbings also led Lieberman to pledge to build more settler homes in response.

Israel authorised plans for more than 1,000 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank on 22 August, including 370 in the Adam settlement.

Israel rejects the widely held view that settlement expansion is one of the greatest obstacles to peace with the Palestinians.

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians who carry out attacks. Politicians defend the tactic as a deterrent against future violence, but critics say it amounts to collective punishment.