Israelis kill cop stabber wearing suicide vest

A PALESTINIAN WEARING an apparent suicide vest was shot to death Friday after twice stabbing an Israeli police officer near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Three other Palestinians died from Israeli fire and dozens more were wounded in the violent fallout over President Trump’s divisive recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Palestinians in the West Bank and along the Gaza border emerged from Friday prayers to immediately clash once more with Israeli troops.

The Palestinians set fire to tires and fired rocks at the Israelis. The troops responded with volleys of tear gas and gunfire, and reports indicated 82 Palestinians were injured — five seriously.

The fatal Ramallah incident began when the Palestinian, wearing a heavy black jacket, attacked the police officer with a knife and fled, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

Authorities were investigating reports that the dead man was wearing a bomb vest or perhaps a fake device when he was shot to death.

According to Rosenfeld, investigators were also trying to determine if the knife-wielding man posed as a journalist to gain closer access to the officer.

The other slain Palestinians included Ibrahim Abu Thraya, 29, a frequent presence during recent skirmishes along the Gaza border.

Thraya, who had lost both legs, carried a Palestinian flag in recent photographs posted on social media.

Daily violence has erupted following Trump’s declaration about Jerusalem serving as Israel’s capital. Previous U.S. policy mandated the city’s fate would be decided through negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the Trump move excluded the U.S. from it usual role as mediator in the ceaseless Middle East negotiations.

And the Islamic militant group Hamas urged a new armed uprising against Israel as blowback for the Trump decision.