An Israeli soldier has been stabbed to death by a Palestinian while sitting in a military jeep in the West Bank.

Judea and Samaria District police have arrested Mohammed Hatib, believed to be a senior officer in the Palestinian security forces, in connection with the attack.

The soldier, Sergeant-Major Ihab Khatib, 28, was attacked while he sat in a traffic jam at Tapuach junction, south of Nablus in the West Bank.

He was stabbed twice in the chest through the open car window. The injured man attempted to drive away but his car overturned in a nearby ditch.

Yossi Margalit, a security officer from the village of Rachelim, chased the assailant as he fled from the jeep, and hit him with his car. The Palestinian sustained very mild injuries.
 
Mr Margalit told Ynet: "I was in my car when I saw a man approach another vehicle and stab the person inside.

“I realised I was witnessing a terror attack. The terrorist began running away, but I kept my cool, drove after him and managed to hit him with my car.

"I stepped out of my car, apprehended the terrorist and turned him over to the security forces."

The Israeli man was taken to Petah Tikva's Beilinson Hospital but later died from his stab wounds.