Terrorist Caught Launching Arson Attack in Gush Etzion

An Arab terrorist who arrived in Nachal Cheletz in Gush Etzion on Wednesday began starting fires in several forest locations between the community of Har Gilo and the Tunnel Road.

A Gush Etzion resident who recognized what was happening reported the incident to the Gush Etzion Regional Council’s Land Authority, who called security forces. After a chase which lasted around 90 minutes, the suspect was apprehended. He had a gasoline canister, a knife and a tear gas canister stashed in his car.

Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Shlomo Ne’eman commented on the incident: “Today we received further proof that our war over land is also a war over lives. Whoever sets fires to this land probably doesn’t believe that it belongs to him. The Gush Land Authority caught this terrorist red-handed with a ‘hot lighter.’ Those who try to murder us will not succeed in harming our lands or our communities. Burning trees and fields will never lead to claims over this land. We will be everywhere, at all times, in order to protect Yehudah and Shomron. Thank you to the brave IDF soldiers who brought this attempted attack to a successful end, and to the firefighters for putting out the fire.”