Two Terror Attacks Averted Friday

B’chasdei Shamayim, two terror attacks were averted Friday.

An Arab terrorist was killed when he tried to run down soldiers near Chevron Friday afternoon. The Arab began driving toward a group of soldiers at the Halhoul checkpoint, but an observant soldier shot him before before he could carry out the attack. The terrorist, a 55-year-old resident of a Chevron-area village, was badly wounded, and died a short while later. Upon inspection, soldiers found a knife in his vehicle.

Earlier, a terrorist opened fire on soldiers in a drive-by shooting near Jenin, in Shomron. No one was injured in the incident near the Jalame checkpoint. Soldiers opened fire on the terrorist, apparently injuring him, but the terrorist was able to continue driving. Reports said that IDF troops were searching for him in Jenin.

Also Friday, an indictment was filed against a 16-year-old Arab in Yerushalayim for her role in a stabbing attack on Jaffa Road in Yerushalayim last month. She was found carrying a scissor and a knife, and together with her cousin, stabbed a 27-year-old Israeli outside the market, sending him to the hospital with light wounds. Also injured was a police officer, apparently from shots fired by officers at the terrorists. The suspect’s cousin was shot and killed.

Machaneh Yehudah, the “Jewish” open-air market (as opposed to the Arab market in the Old City) actually attracts a wide cross-section of Yerushalayim residents, tourists and shoppers from the city’s outlying neighborhoods and suburbs, including from the eastern part of Yerushalayim. Additionally, many Arabs work in the market in various capacities. The market is usually very crowded, and security officials have often said that the market would be an “ideal” place for stabbing attacks.