Palestinian shot dead in West Bank stabbing attempt

A Palestinian man allegedly attempted to stab Israeli soldiers in the West Bank on Sunday before being shot and killed by Israeli forces, the Israeli army said.

The assailant approached soldiers at an Israeli military post near the Huwara checkpoint, close to Nablus, and tried to stab them. No Israelis were reportedly injured.

In response to the attempt, Israeli soldiers shot and killed the Palestinian assailant, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said in a statement.

The Palestinian health ministry also confirmed the incident.

Two Palestinian assailants were shot and killed under similar circumstances on Thursday, after trying to commit stabbing attacks near Nablus and Hebron.

These attacks are part of an ongoing wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which started in October.

Twenty-three Israelis and one U.S. citizen were killed in stabbing, shooting and vehicular attacks committed by lone-wolf Palestinian attackers.

At least 150 Palestinians have been killed, more than half of whom attacked -- or attempted to attack -- Israelis and were gunned down at the scenes of the attacks by security forces or vigilante citizens. The remaining Palestinians died in clashes during protests with Israeli security forces.

Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups charged that excessive force was used against Palestinian attackers, even after they no longer pose a threat at the scenes of attacks.

Israeli leaders accused Palestinian leaders of inciting violence, amid strife over the flashpoint holy site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem, holy to both Jews and Muslims.

The Palestinians, on their part, charge the violence is connected with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories, ongoing since the 1967 Mideast War, on lands slated to be part of a Palestinian state, in accordance with a two-state solution. Endit