Palestinian tries to stab soldiers in West Bank, is shot dead

A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by IDF soldiers Monday morning when he pulled a knife and attempted to stab them near the settlement of Salit in the Sharon region in the western West Bank, the army said.

The Palestinian had attempted to cross the security barrier into Israel and was confronted by IDF soldiers who rushed to the scene.

They attempted to arrest the youth, who was hiding in a bush, and then shot him when he pulled a knife on them, the army said.

Palestinian reports identified the Palestinian as Ahmad Abed Alatif Toba, 17, of the nearby village of Jamal.

“[Soldiers] identified a suspect infiltrating the security fence near the community of Salit, east of Kfar Saba,” an army statement said. “When forces arrived at the scene the assailant drew a knife and attempted to stab the soldiers. Responding to the imminent threat, the force fired towards the attacker, resulting in his death.”

The incident came a day after a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces opened fire at an IDF checkpoint near Beit El in the West Bank, wounding three soldiers. He was shot dead by soldiers at the scene.

On Saturday, an Israeli-American teenager was wounded in a stabbing in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The attacks were the latest in a months-long wave of deadly Palestinian car-rammings, stabbings and shootings.

Palestinian attacks have killed 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, since violence broke out in October.

At the same time, 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, the vast majority while carrying out attacks and others during clashes and demonstrations.

Times of Israel staff and AFP contributed to this report.