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JERUSALEM (AP) -- A knife-wielding Palestinian assailant attacked an idle Israeli military jeep near a West Bank checkpoint on Wednesday, killing a soldier inside the vehicle in what has become a rare case of violence in the territory, the military said.

The soldier, who was the lone occupant in the jeep, was waiting at a traffic light when the attacker reached through the window and stabbed him, the Israeli army said. As the wounded soldier tried to drive away, the vehicle "spun out of control" and flipped over after the driver lost consciousness.

The suspect tried to flee but was quickly apprehended. His identity was not immediately clear.

Such attacks were once commonplace in the West Bank, but have become relatively rare in recent years, as Palestinian forces have increased security over parts of the territory.

Wednesday's attack comes during a time of heightened tensions between Jewish settlers in the West Bank and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, under U.S. pressure, has declared a slowdown in construction in West Bank settlements.

In another gesture to the Palestinians, Netanyahu also has reduced the number of military checkpoints in the West Bank - drawing accusations from settlers that he is threatening their security.

Settler spokesman Yishai Hollender said Netanyahu's policies were "again costing us in blood."

In December, gunmen shot to death a resident of a Jewish settlement driving on a road in the West Bank.

The removal of the checkpoints has helped ease the movement of Palestinians throughout parts of the West Bank. But Israel remains apprehensive about yielding security responsibilities to the Palestinians after years of violence.

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