3 Palestinians in assaults slain

Palestinians brandishing knives attacked Israeli soldiers in two incidents in the West Bank before forces opened fire, killing three assailants, the military said, in the latest violence in almost four months of near-daily Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.

The Israeli military said three Palestinians wielding knives rushed at troops at the Gush Etzion junction near Jerusalem, prompting the soldiers to open fire, killing two of them. The third attacker was wounded and taken to a hospital.

About two hours later, a Palestinian tried to stab soldiers near the West Bank city of Hebron before he was shot and killed by forces, the military said.