Palestinian attempts to stab police officer in Jerusalem, is shot dead

MUSA AL-SHAER/AFP/Getty Images A Palestinian protester fires back David style in the Christmas Day clash with Israeli troops.

The bloodshed is the latest in three months of unrelenting Israeli-Palestinian violence.

A man tried to stab an Israeli police officer on Saturday near Jerusalem’s Old City and was killed, a police spokeswoman said.

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman in the town of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah, the West Bank, on Friday.

The PPS said Israeli forces have resorted to “direct shooting and killing” instead of detaining Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israeli targets.

Israel blames the Palestinian attacks on incitement; Palestinians say the violence stems from frustration at almost five decades of Israeli military rule.

A police spokesman said the auto accelerated in the direction of the border police officers, who took cover and fired at the vehicle.

Palestinian health officials identified the Palestinian woman as Mahdia Hammad, 38.

In a separate incident, a second Palestinian died after he succumbed to wounds he had sustained when he was shot by Israeli forces during clashes east of Gaza City.

Others died in clashes with security forces.

Israeli border guards walk down a road during clashes with Palestinian protesters following a demonstration on December 25, 2015 in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near Nablus in the West Bank. A third settler was killed when Israeli occupation forces opened fire at the Palestinians. Since mid-September, 20 Israelis have been killed in attacks.