A Palestinian was shot dead on Monday after trying to stab Israeli soldiers near an illegal Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, Israel's army said.

"Soldiers were alerted by a suspect attempting to infiltrate the area of Salit, east of Kfar Saba," an army statement said.

"When security forces approached the suspect, he tried to stab them, and, facing an imminent threat, the soldiers shot him."

Since the start of October, Israeli occupation forces have killed more than 160 Palestinians. Almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by frustrated and unarmed Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and a US citizen.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.