Israeli army shoots Palestinian dead after he tried to stab a soldier

Israeli troops have shot and killed a Palestinian who tried to stab a soldier in the West Bank, military officials said.

The army said the incident happened near a checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel today.

It said that after soldiers approached two Palestinians at a petrol station, one attempted to stab a soldier with a knife, and the troops shot him. The other Palestinian was arrested.

It was the third attempted stabbing near the checkpoint in recent weeks, and the latest in a six-week period of violence.

Eleven Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings. A further 69 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire, including 43 whom Israel says were involved in attacks or attempted attacks.