2 Palestinians shot dead after killing Israeli

JERUSALEM - Two Palestinian assailants on Wednesday carried out a stabbing attack outside Jerusalem's Old City, killing one Israeli, before they were shot and killed, Israeli police said. A second Israeli died after apparently being shot mistakenly by police in the confusion.

The attack was the latest in a continuing wave of violence that has gripped the region for more than three months.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the attack happened outside the city's Jaffa Gate, a popular spot for tourists visiting the Old City, home to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy sites. She said police shot both assailants, who were later identified as Palestinians in their early 20s from the West Bank. One died at the scene and the second later in a hospital.

Three people were seriously wounded in the attack, two of whom later died. A 45-year-old Israel man died from multiple stab wounds, while a 40-year-old man died from gunshot wounds, hospital officials said. Samri had said earlier that one of the wounded may have been shot by police officers who were firing at the Palestinian assailants.

Since mid-September, near-daily Palestinian stabbing, shooting, and car-ramming attacks have killed 20 Israelis and an American student. At least 120 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire in the same period, including 82 said by Israel to be attackers. The rest have been killed in clashes with Israeli security forces.

Israel says the violence is a result of a Palestinian campaign of lies and incitement. Palestinians say it stems from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli military rule.