A Palestinian was seriously injured Sunday by Israeli gunfire after allegedly stabbing an Israeli military officer with a knife near Bethlehem in the West Bank, local sources said.

Palestinian sources said that the young man was shot near Efrat settlement entrance, south of Bethlehem, and then he was arrested by Israeli forces.

Israeli liaison office informed its Palestinian counterpart that he was arrested in critical condition.

Israeli public radio reported that a military officer was lightly injured after being stabbed by the Palestinian who was shot and arrested.

The radio reported that both were hospitalized in an Israeli hospital and Palestinian workers were banned from entering the settlement after the incident.

Israeli sources announced that the Israeli army is reinforcing its forces in the West Bank ahead of upcoming Jewish holidays.

Last Friday, three Palestinians and a Jordanian citizen were killed by Israeli forces that claimed they attempted to carry out ramming or stabbing attacks in the West Bank or in East Jerusalem.

A wave of tensions has been mounting between Israelis and Palestinians since last October. Official figures say that at least 227 Palestinians and 40 Israelis have been killed.

Source : XINHUA