Palestinian shot dead after stabbing Israeli police officer

Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian boy suspected in a stabbing attack in a light rail train in Jerusalem on Nov. 10, 2015. Israeli police say Palestinian assailants have attempted to carry out a pair of stabbing attacks on Israelis in Jerusalem. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says in the first incident, two Palestinian minors stabbed and moderately wounded an Israeli guard on the Jerusalem light rail in east Jerusalem. The guard shot one assailant and passengers subdued the second one. AP

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli police officer in Jerusalem on Sunday before being shot dead by security forces, police said, in the latest attack of an unrelenting wave of violence.

Spokeswoman Luba Samri said the 38-year-old Palestinian walked past two officers near a gate into the Old City and then yelled “God in greatest” before stabbing one of them in the neck, moderately wounding him. Other officers opened fire at the attacker and shot him dead. Another knife was later found on his body.

Since mid-September, 19 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings and shootings. At least 97 Palestinians have been killed, including 62 said by Israel to be attackers. The others died in clashes with Israeli forces.

Israel blames the violence on incitement by Palestinian leaders and on social media sites. Palestinians say the attacks stem from a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts.

Much of the violence has emanated from Hebron, the largest West Bank city, where hundreds of Israeli settlers live in heavily-guarded enclaves surrounded by tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The Israeli military raided a Palestinian radio station in Hebron on Sunday and confiscated equipment it said was being used to broadcast calls to attack Israelis. The military said it shut down the “Dream” radio station overnight, marking the third time Israel has closed a Hebron station it accuses of inciting violence.

The military said the station “repeatedly broadcast content that promotes and encourages terror and acts of violence” against Israelis.

Israel has already announced it will fortify an existing fence west of Hebron to try and block the passage of attackers.