Young Palestinian stabs Israeli officer at checkpoint in Hebron

An Israeli border guard officer was in moderate condition on Monday night after he was attacked by a young Palestinian who stabbed him in the upper part of his body with a long nail at checkpoint near al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron in the occupied West Bank, Israeli police and a local official said.

Israeli Police Chief superintendent said in a statment that "the terrorist attacked one of the officers with a nail measuring about 20 centimeters. Another officer fired a single bullet at him and he fell. Border Guard officers acted firmly and professionally," Ynet news report.

Some Israeli media and witnesses were at the scene of the incident said that the Israeli soldier was seriously injured and was transferred to a hospital for treatment.

The young Palestinian was identified as Laith Meshaal, 27, from the town of Halhoul in the Hebron district. Meshaal was evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem with serious wounds.

The Israeli police and army are investigating the incident, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

In another topic, speaking at the International Economic Forum in Istanbul, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Israel that time was running out to achieve peace in light of regional developments.

"We are seekers of peace, justice and freedom. Our people made remarkable sacrifices when they agreed to establish a Palestinian state on less than one quarter of the area of the historic Palestine, President Abbas said.

Addressing Israel, the president said: "Don’t turn your back on the historic opportunity which is available today, but might not be available for long."

He added: "We have to make just and comprehensive peace which guarantees a better future for our region and our future generations, and prevents our children and your children from going back to the cycle of violence and conflict."

Last week, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told a security conference that Israel should "consider a provisional arrangement or even unilateral action" if negotiations remain deadlocked, understood as referencing Israeli withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.

Palestinian official said: that comments by the Israeli defense minister would have welcomed if the Palestinian Authority were part of a comprehensive plan to end the Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital

"Instead of discussing withdrawal, Israel should implement the agreements they signed and extend the Palestinian Authority’s jurisdiction," the official added.

Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4238308,00.html