The police shot the attacker who injured a man near the tram line which separates Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

The knife-wielding assailant was severely wounded, while his victim was slightly injured, Israeli officials said Friday. A hospital source and Israeli media identified the victim as an American tourist.

The security forces also wounded a bystander while shooting at the attacker, according to the officials.

This is the first knife attack after almost two weeks of relative calm in the ancient city, as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians shifted to the West Bank.

Death toll mounting

Also on Friday, two Palestinians allegedly tried to rush a paramilitary police checkpoint on the outskirts of the city of Nablus.

"Both terrorists arrived in area on motorbike armed with knives," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Twitter. The police killed one of the assailants and wounded another. One of the paramilitaries was also injured in the attack.

In addition, Israeli forces fired rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters in Ramallah, wounding nine people, according to Palestinian medics.

Violent clashes also broke out in Bethlehem and Hebron.

A total of 63 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli troops since the latest unrest started on October 1. According to Israeli officials, 36 of them were assailants armed mainly with knives, while the rest died during protests. In addition, 11 Israelis died in the Palestinian attacks.

dj/jm (AFP, AP)