as a surge in violence entered its fourth month.
The attack
occurred at Gush Etzion Junction, where many recent incidents have taken
place. The army said in a statement that "forces at the scene responded
to the attack and shot the assailant, resulting in his death".
A hospital spokeswoman said the soldier was lightly hurt with stab wounds to his face.
Almost daily stabbings, car-rammings and shooting attacks
by Palestinians have killed 21 Israelis and a U.S. citizen since the
start of October, raising fears of a wider escalation a decade after the
last Palestinian uprising subsided.
Israeli forces or armed civilians have killed at least 133
Palestinians in the same period, 83 of whom authorities described as
assailants. Most of the others have been killed in clashes with security
forces.
The
surge in violence has been fueled by Palestinians' frustration over
Israel's 48-year occupation of land they seek for an independent state,
and the expansion of settlements in those territories which were
captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.
Palestinian leaders say a younger generation sees no hope
for the future living under Israeli security restrictions and with a
stifled economy. The latest round of U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed
in April 2014.
Violence has also been triggered by Muslim anger over stepped-up
Israeli visits to Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque complex, including by
ultranationalist politicians. The site, Islam's holiest outside Saudi
Arabia, is also revered by many Jews as a vestige of their biblical
temples.
Israeli leaders says Islamist groups who call for the destruction of
Israel have played a major role in inciting the recent violence.
Source: Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment