An Israel Defense Forces soldier of the elite Duvdevan unit was stabbed in his back and face overnight during active duty in a West Bank town east of Ramallah.

The soldier was evacuated to Jerusalem´s Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem. Doctors said he only sustained light injuries and is in a stable condition.

After the soldier was stabbed, the force responded with rifle fire, injuring three Palestinians. The Palestinians received preliminary treatment on location they were transferred to Israeli hospitals for continued medical treatment.

Apparently, two of the Palestinians were critically injured after one of them was shot in his neck and the other in the stomach. They are currently being treated at Hadassah. The third is being treated at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem.

The IDF said they are looking into the causes that lead to the violence.

The stabbing is the second attack on an IDF unit during active duty in the West Bank this month. Just two weeks ago, a soldier from the Kfir Brigade was stabbed in the neck during active duty in the West Bank.(© Copyright 2012 Ha´aretz 03/27/12)