Israeli military: 2 Palestinians stab soldiers, shot dead

Many observers attribute the recent uptick in violence to a July arson attack in the West Bank by suspected Jewish settlers that killed an 18-month-old Palestinian child and his parents. The man then tried to stab the soldier again, but the soldier pushed him to the ground and moments later, a security guard came and kicked the knife away from the attacker and held him until officers arrived, police said. At least 127 Palestinians have died in the same period, of whom 87 Israel says were attacking or attempting to attack Israelis.

Two Palestinians were shot and killed after stabbing an Israeli soldier near Nablus in the West Bank on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Twenty-one Israelis and one USA citizen were killed since the start of the current wave of violence in October, in lone wolf stabbing, vehicular and shooting attacks perpetrated by Palestinians. As security forces approached the vehicle, the woman in the driver’s seat threw a knife at the officers and attempted to escape.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said the two Palestinians were relatives, one aged 17 and the other, 23.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian stabbed and wounded a soldier near Jerusalem’s main bus station.

‘An initial inquiry suggests an additional soldier was injured as a result of the fire directed towards the attackers, ‘ the military said in a statement.

Palestinian leaders say a younger generation sees no hope for the future living under Israeli security restrictions and with a stifled economy. They are also angry with Israeli extremists who, escorted by army forces, have stepped up their raids on the sensitive site, which is Islam’s third holiest after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

Israel’s Defense Ministry permits the return of bodies of terrorists killed at the scene by Israeli security forces on the condition that the funerals do not become mass gatherings, for fear that they will descend into violence.