Israel soldier wounded in West Bank stabbing, attacker shot

Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian assailant who stabbed and lightly wounded a soldier in the occupied West Bank today, the army said.
"An assailant stabbed an IDF soldier during operational activity adjacent to the security fence in Gush Etzion," a Jewish settlement bloc south of Jerusalem, an army statement said.
"The force responded, firing towards the assailant."
Medics said the soldier was lightly wounded. There was no immediate word on the assailant's condition.
Palestinian security forces identified the assailant as Mussab Ghanimat, 17, from the nearby village of Sureif.
Yesterday, two men from Sureif stabbed a man in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh before being shot. One of them was killed and the other wounded.

There has been a spate of stabbings this month -- mostly by young Palestinians -- against soldiers, police or Israeli civilians.

Since October 1, at least 49 Palestinians and one Israeli Arab have been killed, including alleged attackers. Eight Israelis have been killed in attacks.
One Israeli Jew and one Eritrean have also been killed after being mistaken for attackers.
Gush Etzion, or the Etzion Bloc, stretches from Jerusalem to near the flashpoint city of Hebron, a focal point of recent violence.
Yesterday, a Palestinian attempted to stab an Israeli soldier in the city before fleeing.