Palestinian Wounds 2 Israeli Police in Shooting, Shot Dead

A Palestinian shot and seriously wounded two Israeli police officers in Jerusalem on Tuesday before being shot dead, Israeli authorities and medics said, as a five-month wave of attacks persisted.

The gunman opened fire on a group of police officers on a major commercial artery in annexed east Jerusalem near the Old City and wounded one, police said. He then fled and wounded another officer before being killed.

A police spokesman said the attacker used an automatic weapon.

Dvir Adani, a volunteer medic with United Hatzalah emergency services in Jerusalem, said in a statement they treated "two wounded individuals, one of whom was unconscious".

Earlier, a Palestinian stabbed an ultra-Orthodox Jew in a liquor store in Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv.

The victim and owner of the shop pounced on the attacker, seized his weapon and killed him, police said.

Police said they suspected it was a "terrorist" attack but had not excluded other possible motives.

The two attacks came shortly before US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid the ongoing wave of violence.

In total, 183 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, an American, a Sudanese and an Eritrean have died in a wave of attacks since October 1.

Most of the Palestinians were killed while carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes or demonstrations.

Also on Tuesday a Palestinian woman attempted to stab Israeli police forces in Jerusalem's Old City before being shot dead.