Fresh wave of terrorism surges

T. Belman. I hear that the IDF has been given orders to shoot to kill.

Reservist moderately wounded after terrorist stabs him in Judean community of Efrat • Terrorist attacks riddle weekend, all terrorists killed by security forces • IDF bolsters deployment across Judea and Samaria, warns of violence through High Holidays.

By  Lilach Shoval, Efrat Forsher, Mati Tuchfeld, Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Yori Yalon, ISRAEL HAYOM

Israeli security forces at the scene of a stabbing attack near Tel Rumeida, Hebron | Photo credit: Reuters

An IDF officer was moderately wounded Sunday after being stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist near the Judean community of Efrat, south of Jerusalem. Another soldier shot the terrorist, who sustained critical wounds and died in hospital. The attack came after a weekend of terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria and in and around Jerusalem.

The officer, a reservist company commander, was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem for treatment.

According to available details, the terrorist was spotted by security cameras mounted on Efrat’s perimeter fences around 3 a.m., as he was trying to infiltrate the community.

IDF soldiers began canvassing the area for the suspect immediately. Around 6 a.m., as the troops were patrolling the road leading to Efrat, the terrorist assaulted the officer and stabbed him.

An IDF statement said the incident is being investigated.

Sunday’s attack followed a terrorism-ridden weekend.

An Israeli soldier sustained lacerations after a Palestinian terrorist attempted to stab him near the Tel Rumeida checkpoint in Hebron on Friday afternoon.

Troops at the checkpoint shot and killed the terrorist, and the soldier was taken to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem for treatment.

About an hour later, a ramming attack took place near Kiryat Arba, when two terrorists, a man and a woman, drove their car into a bus stop, attempting to hit several Israelis waiting there.

Troops from the Nahal infantry brigade, who are part of security forces deployed in the volatile city, fired at the terrorists, killing both.

Three Israelis, all teenagers, sustained minor injuries. They were taken to Shaare Zedek for treatment and later released.

Military forces surrounded the Palestinian village of Bani Naim, near Hebron, where the terrorists resided.

Also on Friday afternoon, a bus was stoned as it was traveling on Highway 1, between Jerusalem and the suburb of Maaleh Adumim.

The driver sustained lacerations from the shattered windshield, and was treated at the scene by Magen David Adom paramedics. Security forces searched the area for the assailants but no suspects had been arrested as of Sunday morning.

Perhaps the most serious incident took place near Damascus Gate in the Old City in Jerusalem, where a Jordanian national attempted to stab Israeli troops patrolling the area.

Border policemen shot the terrorist, who was critically wounded. Paramedics called to the scene were unable to stabilize him and pronounced him dead on site.

According to available details, Said Amro, 28, had entered Israel on Thursday on a tourist visa.

Around 1 p.m. Friday, he arrived at Damascus Gate, and upon seeing the Israeli troops he charged several of them with a knife in each hand. The troops opened fire immediately, killing the terrorist. A search of his person revealed a third knife concealed under his clothes.

“It’s our job to protect the public and prevent any harm from coming to innocent bystanders,” a border policewoman who was among the troops attacked by Amro, told Israel Hayom.

A police statement said: “Operational deployment in Jerusalem, in place throughout this [wave of terrorism] will continue. The professionalism, vigilance and rapid response by the troops at the scene prevented an attack that could have placed security forces and civilians in serious harm.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned Amro’s killing, calling it a “deliberate, barbaric act.”

A Jordanian official questioned Israel’s assertion that Amro had attacked Israeli troops, “as even the police said no Israeli soldier or policeman was hurt.”

Jordanian media reported that several protests took place in Amman Saturday, urging the Jordanian government to expel the staff of the Israeli Embassy from Amman. Protesters also urged the government to order the return of the Jordanian ambassador from Israel.

While Israel offered no official response, Foreign Ministry officials have been in touch with their Jordanian counterparts, briefing them on the investigation and providing evidence that Amro had purchased several knives from a merchant in the Old City moments before the attack.

Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brig. Gen. Lior Carmeli visited the scenes of all the attacks over the weekend, and was briefed by Judea Brigade Commander Col. Itzik Cohen on events in the sector.

Given the new surge in violence, the military has increased its deployment across Judea and Samaria, assigning an additional infantry battalion to the Hebron sector as well.

An IDF official warned of increased terrorist activity in the days ahead and throughout the High Holidays, saying the overall volatile atmosphere could inspire new terrorist attacks and copycats.

On Saturday, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Channel 2 News that security forces are wary of a new surge in terrorist activity, especially ahead of the High Holidays.

“It’s no secret that ahead of the High Holidays, when we expect more visits by Jews to the Temple Mount, and when tens of thousands of people visit the Old City, Palestinian incitement on social media increases,” he said. “These days are definitely rife with tensions, and the Israel Police are preparing accordingly.”