Two Terrorists Killed Resisting Demolition

IDF soldiers who came under fire while carrying out the demolition of a terrorist’s home in Kalandiya returned fire and killed three Palestinians on Monday morning.

Soldiers from the combat engineering corps and special forces units were razing the  home of Muhammed Abu Shaheen, who was indicted for the shooting murder of Israeli Danny Gonen near Dolev in June. Shaheen has also been implicated in failed attempts to murder Jews and has been involved in shootings at soldiers in Kalandiya on prior occasions, the Shin Bet said.

After the gunfight, rioters threw rocks and firebombs at IDF soldiers, though none were injured, the IDF spokesperson said. The troops fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the large mobs, the military said.

This and several other demolitions were approved by the High Court on Thursday.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyal al-Maliki, speaking on Voice of Palestine radio, accused Israel of “clear escalation, clear assassination” in the Kalandiya incident.

However, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon defended the soldiers’ conduct and said that Monday’s bloody confrontation would not affect the implementation of the demolitions policy, which the state maintains is an effective deterrent against terrorists.

“There was, indeed, violent resistance in Kalandiya, but the [Israeli military] unit conducted itself in a very professional manner. It also carried out the mission, blowing up the home. It also hit the gunmen —four of them, according to the unit,” Yaalon told Israel Radio.

On Sunday, the Shin Bet said it detained a Palestinian for killing an Israeli father and son after his relatives, “worried their home might be demolished,” turned him in.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the November 17th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.