JERUSALEM (AFP) – A Palestinian tried to stab an Israeli soldier near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday before being shot dead, the army said, the latest death in a flare-up of violence.
“An assailant armed with a knife attempted to stab an IDF (Israel Defence Force) soldier at a checkpoint at the entrance to (the village of) Bani Naim,” a statement said.
“Responding to the immediate threat, forces fired at the assailant, resulting in his death.”
Tuesday’s attack was the ninth since Friday, coming after Palestinians wrapped up the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha and as Israel tightened security ahead of major Jewish holidays in October.
The upsurge has shattered several weeks of relative calm.
Since October, 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed in ongoing violence, according to an AFP count.
Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
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