Palestinian stabs 3 in Israeli city of Raanana, 1 critically wounded: police

Israeli police officers inspect the site of a stabbing attack, in Raanana, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. (Ariel Schalit / AP Photo)

JERUSALEM - Israeli police say a Palestinian stabbed three Israelis in the central city of Raanana, seriously wounding one of them, before being shot and then arrested by Israeli security forces.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says a 20-year-old Palestinian man stabbed the Israelis on Saturday, in a rare attack on the Jewish Sabbath. An Israeli man was stabbed in the stomach and seriously wounded. Two women were lightly wounded.

It's the latest incident in a three-month spree of near-daily Palestinian attacks on Israelis that have killed 20. At least 116 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, of which Israel says 79 were assailants. The rest were killed in clashes with Israeli forces.

Israel blames incitement by political and religious leaders. Palestinians say the attacks stem from despair at achieving statehood.