Jerusalem  - An Israeli man died Sunday in Jerusalem after being stabbed by a 23-year-old Palestinian, local police said.

Israeli police called the attack "a criminal" act. The 49-year-old Jewish man died minutes after being stabbed with a knife in the hostel where he had been staying for the last few days.

The police confirmed that the young Palestinian fled the scene after the attack and that an investigation has been opened to clarify the motives. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld, refused to give any additional information about the identity of the attacker, but excluded any nationalist motives.

Also Sunday, a car in the city of Nablus and a bus in Bethlehem were stoned causing damages but no injuries.

Israeli Defence Forces also reported that Palestinian militants fired one Kassam rocket to the western Negev, the fourth this month. At least four mortar shells were also fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian activists. (dpa)