Palestinian shot after stabbing Israeli soldier in south Hebron

A Palestinian man was shot by Israeli forces after stabbing a soldier by the al-Fawwar junction in the South Hebron Hills on Wednesday.

“Apparently one wounded, terrorist neutralised,” the Israeli police said in a statement.

The soldier, 20, was seriously wounded in his head and was evacuated to the Shaare Zedel Medical Centre in Jerusalem.

Hebron has become a flashpoint city in the last two months, home to the majority of the alleged Palestinian stabbers in attacks against Israelis.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that a Palestinian man came out of his car armed with a knife and stabbed the soldier.

Palestinian local media have identified the man as Mohammed Ismail al-Shawbaki from the al-Fuwwar refugee camp.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health told local Palestinian news agency Maan that the Palestinian shot at the scene was evacuated to Hadassah hospital and is in Jerusalem in critical condition.

Since the beginning of October, the surge in violence has resulted in 93 Palestinians killed. In the same period, 17 Israelis, one American and one Eritrean man were killed.

More than half of the Palestinians killed have been alleged attackers, while others were shot during demonstrations and protests against the Israeli security forces.

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday and expressed his strong support for Israel in the face of Palestinian attacks.

“Today I express my complete condemnation for any act of terror that takes innocent lives,” Kerry said.

“Clearly no people anywhere should live with daily violence, with attacks in the streets, with knives, with scissors, cars,” he added.

Kerry’s visit was aimed at deescalating the violence, but there is little support from either the Palestinian or Israeli side to resume negotiations, which broke down more than 18 months ago.