Palestinian shot, arrested after stabbing Israeli in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM – A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli woman in Jerusalem before being shot and wounded on Monday, police said, the latest in a series of attacks in recent months.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the woman was stabbed in the leg before nearby officers opened fire, moderately wounding the assailant and taking him into custody. The man was later taken to hospital for treatment.

Israeli security forces had earlier demolished and sealed off the Jerusalem homes of two Palestinians involved in deadly attacks against Israelis in the city last year.

One attacker, Bahaa Elayan, opened fire on passengers on a bus in October, killing three people. The same day, Alaa Abu Jamal rammed his car into pedestrians and then stabbed people, killing one. Both attackers were shot and killed at the scene.

Israel claims home demolitions are an effective tool to deter attacks. Critics say the tactic amounts to collective punishment.

Since mid-September, Palestinian attackers have killed 21 Israelis, mostly in stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks. That does not include the two people killed in a shooting attack on Friday in Tel Aviv, as the motive for that assault remains unclear. Police and special forces are still searching for the gunman, who has been on the loose since the attack.

At least 131 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the last three and a half months, 90 of them identified by Israel as assailants. The rest died in clashes with security forces.

Israel says the violence is being fanned by a Palestinian campaign of lies and incitement. The Palestinians say it is rooted in frustration stemming from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation.