PM Vows to Capture Terrorists in Deadly West Bank Shooting
On Thursday night, one man was killed and another injured when gunmen opened fire on an Israeli car in the northern West Bank outside a settlement. Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, vowed to capture the terrorists involved in the shooting. He expressed his condolences to the family members of the individual killed in the attack in Samaria and wished a speedy recovery to the one wounded. Bennett said in a statement that the terrorists would be captured soon by the security forces and they would serve justice. Light to moderate injuries was also suffered by two other victims due to broken glass and they were taken to the Meir Medical Center by ambulance in Kfar Saba.
Benny Gantz, the Defense Minister said that security forces in Israel had gone on high alert after the shooting. The incident had occurred west of Nablus, near the Homesh illegal outpost and settlement of Shavei Shomron. Opting to use the West Bank’s biblical term, the Defense Minister said that they would thwart terror in Samaria and Judea through their readiness and vigilance and would continue to take all necessary measures for confronting the terror groups in these areas. He also expressed his condolences to the family members of the deceased victim.
It was later discovered that the victim was a 25-year old student living in Shavei Shorom, named Yehuda Dimentman, and was studying at a yeshiva in Homesh. He left behind a wife as well as a young child. Omer Barlev, the Public Security Minister, who has faced a great deal of criticism in recent weeks from right-wing opposition lawmakers and pro-settlement ministers, referred to the shooting as a ‘severe attack’. The criticism was because of his discussion of the increasing violence against the Palestinians by the West Bank settlers. Barlev said that Palestinian terrorism was once more rearing its ugly head. He then added a verse reading from the Psalms.
The verse refers to pursuing enemies and destroying them and not returning until they are all consumed. Yair Lapid, the Foreign Minister of Israel, said that ‘all measures’ would be used by Israel that are at its disposal for catching the ‘despicable terrorists’. Lapid went on to say that he was in full support of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) as well as other security forces who have to face terror and violence every day and night. He added that these people would get their hands on the terrorists involved in the shooting, along with those who had sent them.
In the last few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in Palestinian terror attacks. Four of these attacks had happened in Jerusalem alone. This includes a deadly shooting, which as it turns out, was conducted by a member of the terror group known as Hamas. Three battalions of the IDF were already scouring the West Bank, looking for the gunmen responsible for the latest attack. A terror cell is considered responsible for the attack, as the IDF noted that more than 10 bullets had been fired at the vehicle.
