Jerusalem (EFE) little more than 24 hours.
“A short time ago, a terrorist armed with a pistol was identified on the outskirts of the Kedumim community and was neutralized by the community’s civilian security team,” the Israeli army confirmed in a statement.
A local watchman “detected suspicious movement” and called the Kedumim security patrol to the scene, who spotted “an armed terrorist trying to enter the settlement, warned him, shot and killed him,” the Yesha Council reported, entity that brings together all the settlements in the occupied West Bank.
“The terrorist could not penetrate the ancients and there were no victims,” they add.
Security forces are currently conducting searches in and around the settlement and its residents have been asked to stay inside their houses and close doors and windows.
“I commend the activity of the security forces in Kedumim for their operational vigilance and professionalism. The proactive activity and courage of the guards saved lives,” said Hananal Dorn, head of the Kedumim council, the colony where extremist Bezalel Smotrich, the current finance minister, lives.
Had it not been thwarted, this would have been the fourth Palestinian attack in just over 24 hours against Israeli targets, in response to Thursday’s violent Israeli raid on the Jenin Palestinian refugee camp in the northern West Bank, which resulted in serious clashes with militants and in which 9 Palestinians were killed.
Last night, a 21-year-old Palestinian killed seven Israelis while leaving Shabbat prayers in a synagogue in the Neve Yaakov settler settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, and wounded three others. The attacker died after being neutralized by the Police and more than 40 people have been arrested in this case.
This morning, a 13-year-old Palestinian teenager opened fire in the City of David Jewish settlement, in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, also in East Jerusalem, seriously wounding two Israelis, a father and a son. The shooting ended when two members of the attacked group of Israelis returned fire with their own weapon and neutralized the assailant, who is in serious condition.
And this Saturday afternoon, another Palestinian gunman opened fire at a restaurant located in another settlement in the occupied West Bank, near Jericho, but his weapon misfired and no injuries were reported.
Given these events, the Israel Police Commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai, asked citizens who have a weapons license to carry them as a security measure, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced after the emergency meeting with his security cabinet that more weapons permits will be granted among civilians as a measure to “save lives”.
“This government will act against terrorism with vigour, determination and force,” Netanyahu said, but at the same time asked to stop the spiral of violence.
“Although we are not looking for an escalation, we are prepared for any scenario,” said the prime minister when calling on the Israelis “not to take the law into their own hands.”
