One Israeli has been stabbed to death and a second apparently shot dead accidentally by police during an attack by two Palestinians in Jerusalem, BBC News reports.
Both Palestinians were shot by police trying to stop the attack – one died at the scene, the other in hospital. The assailants were reportedly identified as Palestinians from the Qalandia area in the occupied West Bank.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said security had been increased across Jerusalem in preparation for the arrival of thousands of tourists wanting to celebrate Christmas in the Holy Land.
There has been an upsurge in violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the past three months. Twenty-one Israelis have now been killed, most of them in stabbings and shooting attacks by Palestinians.
At least 131 Palestinians have also been killed. More than half were said by Israel to be attackers. Others have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces.
