Palestinian woman shot dead after alleged stabbing attempt: Israeli police

A Palestinian woman allegedly tried to stab an Israeli border policeman at a checkpoint north of Jerusalem on Monday and was shot dead, Israeli police said.

No injuries were reported among the police in the incident at the Biddu checkpoint. Border police fired in the air before shooting her when she continued to move toward them with a knife, authorities said.

A wave of such attacks have occurred since October, though the violence has steadily declined in recent weeks.

Violence since October has killed 205 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have fed the recent unrest.