Israel beefs up security in wake of stabbings

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Israel has increased security in the West Bank and in Israeli cities and towns in the wake of two stabbings on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special security cabinet meeting on Tuesday to discuss the recent spate of violence.

On Monday, a 20-year-old Israeli Defense Forces soldier died after he was stabbed near the Haganah train station in south Tel Aviv by a Palestinian man from the West Bank, who was arrested at the scene. Later that day, a 26-year-old Israeli woman was stabbed to death by a Palestinian man near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Her assailant was shot by a security guard.

The attack on the soldier was the first of its kind in Tel Aviv this year, prompting concern that violence that has been mostly focused in Jerusalem is spreading.

In the last month, Jerusalem has been the site of violent clashes between Palestinians and Israelis over access to the Temple Mount holy site and following two attacks by Palestinians who drove their vehicles into pedestrian crowds.