Israeli settler set free after killing Palestinian

An Israeli settler was set free by police on Thursday, after he shot and killed a Palestinian man in the West Bank, saying that he 'feared for his life'.

Muataz Hussein Hilal, 23, from Beita in the West Bank, was killed after the unnamed settler fired on a crowd of people who were throwing rocks at his car near the Hawara checkpoint.

Majdi Mohammed, an Associated Press photographer was also hospitalised after being shot in the hand.

A video of the incident has emerged, showing the settler ramming into a Palestinian ambulance and firing out of his rear window at a crowd of people throwing rocks at his vehicle.

The incident occurred after a group of protesters blocked the road and the settler decided to drive straight through, drawing anger from the crowd of mainly young men.

The gunman, a father of eight living in the Itamar settlement, has reported the young men's behaviour to the police.

"Praise God, fortunately I managed to get away after looking death in the face," the shooter told Israel's Channel 2.

"They almost lynched me. I managed to get home in one piece and I bless God for the great miracle."

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for the settler's arrest over the killing of the young man.

"Israeli authorities should not allow a man who by his own admission shot at a crowd, injuring a journalist and killing a young man, to rest comfortably at home, unmolested by police," Sherif Mansour said.