Palestinian killed after alleged Jerusalem knife attack

By Anees Barghouti

JERUSALEM

A Palestinian man was shot dead Wednesday after allegedly stabbing an Israeli police officer in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli police.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said one police officer was slightly injured in the alleged knife attack near Jerusalem’s Old City.

"Police responded at the scene and shot the assailant," Rosenfeld said in a statement.

The alleged assailant, he added, "later succumbed to his injuries at an Israeli hospital".

According to Palestinian figures, close to 255 Palestinians have been killed since the current uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence began late last year.

Israel, for its part, says 42 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians over the same period.