Israeli officer wounded, Palestinian assailant killed in Jerusalem stabbing attack

An Israeli border police officer suffered light to moderate wounds and a Palestinian assailant was killed in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem on Sunday morning, the Israeli police said.

The incident took place close to the Damascus Gate at the entrance to the Old City in east Jerusalem.

A 38-year-old Palestinian from Nablus in the West Bank approached two border police officers, pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the officers in his neck, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement.

The stabbed officer was evacuated to the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem. The officers shot and killed the Palestinian assailant.

"The quick and professional response by the officers brought the incident to its quick end and prevented a more a massive attack," Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman said on Sunday, according to the police statement.

Nineteen Israelis have died in Palestinian stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks in the past two months, amid an ongoing wave of violence, as well as one U.S. national.

More than 100 Palestinians have been killed during this period, with some killed in clashes with Israeli security forces, and others killed by security forces and vigilante citizens while allegedly trying to carry out attacks.

Some charge Israeli security forces have used excessive force in subduing Palestinian attackers.

On a related matter, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) together with the Shin Bet Security Agency raided and shut down a Palestinian radio station overnight in the West Bank city of Hebron, the third such raid in the past month, a military spokesperson told Xinhua.

In the overnight raid at the "Radio Dream" offices on Sunday, Israeli soldiers confiscated equipment and documents, and shut them down. Israel charges the popular station for instigating violence against Israelis. The station was closed until May 26, 2016.

The current wave of violence was sparked by strife over the flashpoint site of the al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, holy to both Jews and Muslims, and quickly spread to outbursts of violence throughout the country and Palestinian territories.

While Israeli right wing politician blame the Palestinian Authority and media outlets for incitement responsible for the current wave of violence, Palestinian officials blame Israel for its 50-year occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories, where they wish to establish a Palestinian state, in accordance with the two-state solution. Endit