Israeli soldiers stand guard at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank following an attack on January 5. Photo by Mahmoud Illean/AP
Israeli security forces on Thursday shot dead four Palestinians who launched two separate stabbing attacks in the occupied West Bank, the military said, as a surge in street violence entered its fourth month.The first attack occurred at Gush Etzion Junction, the scene of many similar recent incidents. Three Palestinians attacked a group of soldiers with knives, the army said in a statement, and the "forces thwarted (the) attack and shot (the) assailants."Shortly after, at an Israeli checkpoint near the city of Hebron, a Palestinian tried to stab a soldier and was shot and killed, the army said. No soldiers were injured in either incident.Stabbings, car-rammings, and shootings by Palestinians have killed 21 Israelis and a US citizen since the start of October.Related: In Photos: One Year in the Israeli-Palestinian ConflictIsraeli forces or armed civilians have killed at least 137 Palestinians in the same period, 87 of whom authorities described as attackers. Most of the others have been killed in clashes with security forces.Commentators say the surge in attacks has been fueled by the collapse of US-sponsored peace talks in 2014, the growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians want for a future state, and Islamist calls for the destruction of Israel.Also stoking the violence has been Muslim opposition to increased Israeli access to Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque complex, which is the third holiest site in Islam and is also revered in Judaism as the location of two biblical temples.Figures released by Israel's security agency Shin Bet on Friday showed a 25 percent drop in the number of attacks by Palestinians on Israel from November to December, however.Its monthly report said there were total of 246 attacks in December, causing three fatalities and 44 people injured, compared to 326 in November, causing 10 fatalities and 58 people injured.Related: Here's Why the Latest Spate of Violence Between Israelis and Palestinians Won't Stop SoonFollow VICE News on Twitter: @vicenews
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