An Israeli military court on Tuesday sentenced a thirteen-year-old Palestinian boy to two months imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 NIS (250 US dollars) for hurling stones at Israeli soldiers.

As he sentenced Majid Jaradat, the judge told the boy, "Little David killed big Goliath with a small sling."

Jaradat is from the village of Su'ir north west of Hebron in the southern West Bank. He was arrested by Israeli soldiers throwing stones with a sling on his way home from school in the village.

The judge originally sentenced Jaradat to a year, saying "Since you have not appealed for the court's mercy, we sentence you to a year imprisonment."

Under pressure from lawyers the judge reduced the sentence to two months imprisonment and a fine of 1000 NIS.

Jaradat will serve his sentence in Ofer detention centre along with adult prisoners.

According to the Al-Damir humanitarian organization, Israeli forces have killed 82 Palestinian children since June 25 2006. 400 others are detained in Israeli jails.