RAMALLAH, Oct. 30  -- A special Israeli police force killed on Thursday a former Palestinian prisoner in al-Thawri neighborhood in east Jerusalem. Israeli Radio and Palestinian eyewitnesses said.

The witnesses in the neighborhood said that a special Israeli police force, disguised as civilians, stormed the neighborhood at predawn, seized the roofs of several buildings and besieged the house of Mo'taz Hijazi.

The witnesses said that the police and Hijazi exchanged fire, adding that Hijazi was seriously injured and died later.

Meanwhile, Israeli Radio quoted the police saying that an Israeli police force stormed the house of an east Jerusalem resident suspected for an attempt to kill an Israeli right-wing rabbi called Glek Lilla in the city of Jerusalem.

The report said when the police force arrived to arrest Hijazi, he began to open fire at them, adding the police forces fired back and killed him. "The man had a pistol and was seized after he was killed."

Hani Gheith, head of the Sports club in al-Thawri neighborhood, told reporters that the police forces besieged the house of Hijazi and didn't storm it until they made sure that he was injured.

"Mo'taz Hijazi was killed by the Israeli police forces' gunfire, " said Gheith, adding that "dozens of young men in the neighborhood tried to reach the house and rescue his life, but clashed with the police force, and 15 people were injured."

Mo'taz Hijazi, 32, spent in Israeli prisons for 12 years for being charged with carrying out activities against Israel and attacked Israeli guard during his stay in the prison.