Israeli killed by errant fire in attempted stabbing attack, Palestinian wounded

An Israeli was killed and a Palestinian attacker injured by Israeli forces' gunfire amid an attempted stabbing attack in the West Bank on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli army said.

A Palestinian allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli at the Gush Etzion Junction, a site where several attacks once took place in the past five months, near a Jewish settlement bloc located south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said in a statement.

Forces at the scene attempted to thwart the attack and fired towards the assailant, hitting both him and the Israeli, the IDF spokesperson added.

The Israeli was critically wounded as a result of the fire, and had died from his wounds a couple of hours of the incident took place.

The Palestinian attacker was moderately wounded by the fire and was evacuated to the Shaarei Zedek hospital in Jerusalem.

The Gush Etzion Junction has seen a spate of attacks, many targeting Jewish settlers or soldiers stationed at the intersection.

Twenty seven Israelis were killed since October, in a slew of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks.

More than 170 Palestinians have been killed during this time, some killed during clashes in protests with Israeli security forces, while others gunned down after carrying, or attempting to carry out, attacks against Israelis.

There has been some criticism over the deaths of some of the attackers, with Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups charging some of the attackers have been killed after no longer posing a threat.

Israeli leaders charge that the wave of unrest is the result of Palestinian incitement, whereas the Palestinians charge it is due to 49 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, lands where the Palestinians wish to establish a state, and the dim prospects for renewal of the long-stalled peace talks. Endit