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Suspected Arab Kidnapper Killed During Chase by Israeli Soldiers

June 29, 1989
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An Arab suspected of kidnapping an American relief worker was shot to death Wednesday by Israel Defense Force soldiers in Gaza.

Seven other Arabs were wounded in clashes with security forces in the West Bank.

The slain suspect, Mohammad Ahmad Hassan Nasser, was the target of an IDF dragnet in the Gaza Strip.

He is believed to have been one of the three gunmen who abducted Chris George, head of the West Bank-Gaza section of the Save the Children Foundation, from his Gaza office on June 22.

George, who was released unharmed 29 hours later, identified Nasser as one of his kidnappers.

According to security sources, Nasser also is suspected of injuring an Israeli security guard with an ax in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago and firing at an IDF officer in Gaza.

The officer was slightly wounded. An Arab bystander was killed.

Nasser, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was imprisoned for security offenses and later released in a 1985 prisoner exchange.

According to security sources, Nasser, trying to evade the Gaza manhunt, hijacked a taxi Wednesday night. It was stopped by soldiers. The suspect reportedly refused to surrender and was fatally shot when he drew his gun.

In Jerusalem, four Arabs were slightly wounded Wednesday on the Jerusalem Road. Two residents of the Balata refugee camp, near Nablus, also were injured.

In the West Bank town of Tulkarm, a 21-year-old Palestinian was wounded in a confrontation with soldiers.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem Magistrate Daniela Wechsler is expected to rule Thursday on a police request to extend the custody of two Jewish settlers from the West Bank suspected of killing a Palestinian in Bani Zeit village on June 23.

They are Meir Berg and Ariel Begun from Pesagot, near Ramallah. Five other settlers arrested with them have been released on bail.

According to the police, Berg is the prime suspect in the slaying of Aziz Khamis Arar, 22.

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