Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who tried to stab
a soldier near a settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday,
the military said.
The soldier was attacked as he guarded a bus stop near Ofra, the
force said. "Responding to threat, forces at the scene shot the
assailant, resulting in his death," it added.
Over the past year, Palestinians, many acting alone and often
using rudimentary weapons and cars, have killed at least 35
Israelis and two visiting Americans in similar attacks.
During the same period, at least 226 Palestinians have died in
violent incidents in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza
Strip. Of those, Israel has identified 154 as assailants, while
others were killed during clashes and protests.
Palestinians have accused Israeli police and soldiers of using
excessive force in many such cases. Israel has opened
investigations of several incidents.
Palestinian leaders say the assailants are acting out of
desperation over the collapse in 2014 of peace talks and the
expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied land that Palestinians
seek for an independent state.