Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian After Stabbing Attack Attempt

Israeli servicemen on Tuesday killed a Palestinian, after he tried to attack them with a knife near the city of Hebron, The Times of Israel reported.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — The assailant "tried to stab a soldier" and was killed following the attempt that took place near the settlement of near Bani Na’im, The Times of Israel said citing a statement of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The newspaper added that the Tuesday attack was the ninth in the course of the last week, with the majority of them carried out in Jerusalem and in the vicinity of Hebron.

Palestinians have been seeking the recognition of their independent state, proclaimed in 1988, in the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements on the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.

Stabbing attacks by Palestinians have been on the rise since last year when tensions between Israel and residents in the occupied lands escalated after an Israeli security operation in Jerusalem. According to Israeli media, some 200 Palestinians, as well as 35 Israelis and four foreign citizens have been killed since October in the attacks.