Israeli troops shot dead a suspected Palestinian assailant at the entrance to the West Bank village of Silwad on Friday, the army said.

"Forces identified a suspect running towards an (army) post in Silwad, northeast of Ramallah," a spokeswoman said.

"The force shot the suspect, resulting in his death."

Silwad, close to the Jewish settlement of Ofra, is under constant stakeout by the Israeli army seeking to prevent attacks on passing settler traffic.

It is the scene of regular clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and troops.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the dead man as Silwad resident Iyad Hamed, 38, a father of two.

Palestinian security officials told AFP he had a history of mental health problems and had been taking medication.

A neighbour told AFP he heard five shots, then saw soldiers take away Hamed's body and turn back Palestinian ambulances.

A wave of violence since October has killed 222 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say, with the majority of them from the West Bank.

Others have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces.

On Wednesday, a Palestinian man was shot dead after stabbing an Israeli soldier near Ariel in the northern West Bank.

SourcE: AFP