Palestinian killed in apparent revenge act

JERUSALEM, July 2 (AFP): A Palestinian teenager was reportedly kidnapped and killed on Wednesday, triggering violent clashes in east Jerusalem, in an apparent act of revenge for the murder by militants of three Israeli youths.
The killing was denounced by the Palestinian leadership which said it held Israel responsible and demanded the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu act to prevent revenge attacks.
Netanyahu also condemned the "despicable murder" and ordered investigators to work "as quickly as possible" to track down the perpetrators, while urging both sides "not to take the law into their own hands".
Israel's army radio said the teenager was forced into a black car while hitchhiking in east Jerusalem and that a body was later found in a forest in the western part of the city, describing it as a "suspected revenge attack".
Shortly after dawn, crowds of angry Palestinians began gathering outside the teenager's home in Shuafat, with clashes erupting around 8:00am (0500 GMT) when stones were hurled at police, who responded with sound bombs and rubber bullets, an AFP correspondent and police said.
Clouds of black smoke rose into the summer sky as hundreds of masked Palestinians faced off with Israeli police in riot gear.
At least 35 people were injured by rubber bullets, among them at least six journalists, the correspondent said.
The normally-bustling main road was littered with stones and the light rail service which passes through the neighbourhood was suspended.
Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat denounced the murder and called for calm.
"This is a horrible and barbaric act which I strongly condemn," he said in a statement, urging all parties "to exercise restraint."