A spokesperson for the Popular Resistance Committee told Ynet on Monday evening that his group kidnapped a settler in the West Bank. Spokesperson Mahmoud Abed Alal said he would release more information on the kidnapping later Monday night.? The Israel Defense Forces said it was aware of the announcement but could not yet confirm that an Israeli citizen had been kidnapped, adding that they had received no report on a kidnapping from settlers. Settler leaders also said they are unaware of a kidnapping attack.A PRC official told Ynet his group was only ready to negotiate “the price” that Israel is willing to pay in return for the release of the soldier and settler.

He said Palestinian groups would continue to kidnap Israelis “to bring an end to Israeli aggression against the Palestinian in the West Bank and Gaza and to bring about the release of Palestinian prisoners.”

The PRC spokesperson refused to say where in the West Bank the settler was kidnapped, but other sources said the incident took place in El-Khader, Bethlehem or Nablus.

He also refused to note whether the group intended to release photos of the alleged hostage or a recorded tape confirming the kidnapping.

Eyewitnesses said the army set up surprise checkpoints across the West Bank in a bid to intercept the kidnappers.

The Popular Resistance Committees is the group that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping Sunday of Gilad Shalit, along with Hamas’ military wing and a largely unknown group called Islam’s Army.

The second alleged kidnapping comes just hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ruled out conceding to Hamas’ demands to release all female security prisoners in return for information on the abducted soldier.