JERUSALEM: A Palestinian kidnapped and murdered an Israeli soldier hoping to exchange the body for his brother, jailed in the Jewish state since 2003, officials said on Saturday.

An army spokesman said the soldier “was kidnapped and killed by a Palestinian near Qalqiliya yesterday (Friday) and his body was found” on Saturday. An AFP correspondent said his body was evacuated by helicopter on Saturday afternoon, following an overnight search.

The victim, who was not identified, was serving in the army but was on a weekend pass and knew the Palestinian, having worked with him at a restaurant south of Tel Aviv, the Shin Bet security agency said.