Israeli forces shoot dead Jewish attacker: Police

Israeli security forces on Tuesday shot dead a young Jewish man who ran at them with a knife at a checkpoint near Jerusalem, police said.

"Members of the security services at Hizma spotted a man running in their direction with an object in his hand," a police statement said, referring to the checkpoint between Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

"They considered (him) an immediate danger to their lives and opened fire."

The attacker was a 20-year-old Jewish Israeli man from Jerusalem, the police said.

He was killed on the spot, they said, later publishing a picture of a short knife he was alleged to have been carrying.

A police spokeswoman confirmed media reports that, while investigating the background to the incident, it became apparent to police that the man had been trying to commit suicide.

Hizma is a key checkpoint for Palestinians and Israeli settlers crossing into and out of Jerusalem.

Palestinians often carry out similar attacks at Israeli checkpoints, with dozens shot dead since a wave of attacks began in October 2015.

But Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive force and say some of those killed posed no threat or had no intention of attacking anyone.

However, there was no initial indication Tuesday's incident was linked to other attacks.

No similar attacks on security forces have been carried out by Israeli Jews since the wave of violence began.