Jerusalem: Palestinian shot dead by Israeli police

The Western Wall, Temple Mount/Haram al-SharifReuters

Israeli police shot dead a man who tried to stab one of them in East Jerusalem today in what appeared to be the latest in a spate of Palestinian street attacks, police said.

Police described the alleged attacker as a "terrorist", but gave no more details on his identity. A police spokeswoman said he attacked an Israeli trooper who tried to search him and whose protective vest prevented the knife from causing injury.

The incident took place in a part of Jerusalem's Old City close to Temple Mount, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews, where an increasing number of visits by Israelis has stirred Palestinian rancour that has contributed to the past two weeks' surge in violence.