American tourist killed in attack in Israel

An American tourist was killed in Israel today in a stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian from the West Bank, according to Israeli police.

The attacker was shot and killed, Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted. A knife allegedly used by the attacker was recovered, Rosenfeld wrote.

The Israeli police said ten people were hospitalized.

A senior State Department official said it was aware of the report that an American citizen had been killed and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv was working to obtain more information.

The attack occurred in Jaffa, a city just south of Tel Aviv.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is visiting Israel, said in a statement that the “brutal attack” occurred while he was in Tel Aviv meeting with former Israeli President Shimon Peres.

“There is no justification for such acts of terror,” Biden’s statement said.

The statement said Biden “expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of American life and offered his condolences to the family of the American citizen murdered in the attack, as well as his wishes for a full and quick recovery for the wounded.”

ABC News’ Molly Hunter contributed to this report.