by News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Prime Minister Netanyahu blames "systematic Palestinian incitement," vows to demolish terrorist's home.
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Israeli security
officers seen through a window shattered by bullets at the entrance to
Har Adar near Jerusalem, Tuesday
Photo: AP
A
Palestinian terrorist opened fire early Tuesday at the entrance to the
Har Adar settlement outside Jerusalem, killing three Israelis and
critically wounding a fourth in one of the deadliest attacks in a
two-year spate of violence.
One of the victims, a border policeman, was
named as Solomon Gavriyah, 20, from Be'er Yaakov. He was posthumously
promoted to staff sergeant. Another victim was identified as Youssef
Ottman, a resident of the nearby Arab Israeli community of Abu Ghosh,
who had been working as a security guard. The third casualty, also a
security guard, was later identified as Or Arish, a 25-year-old resident
of Har Adar.
Gaza's Islamist Hamas rulers praised the
attack but stopped short of taking responsibility for it. Israeli
officials said the attacker was a 37-year-old Palestinian father of four
who appeared to have acted alone.
The attack comes at a tense period amid the
Jewish high holidays and is likely to complicate the mediation efforts
of U.S. peace envoy Jason Greenblatt who had just arrived in the region
for meetings with Israeli and Palestinians leaders.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused "systematic Palestinian
incitement” for the attack and said he expected Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas to "condemn this attack and not try to justify it."
The prime minister also vowed that "the
home of the terrorist will be demolished. The IDF is already surrounding
the terrorist's village and revoking the work permits of his extended
family.”
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the
attacker approached the back gate entrance of the Har Adar settlement,
hiding among dozens of Palestinian day laborers who were being checked
by security forces.
The man aroused police suspicion and was
asked to stop, Samri said. At that point, he pulled out a weapon and
opened fire from close range. The attacker, who held a valid permit to
work in Israel, was then shot dead by other forces at the scene.
The Magen David Adom emergency medical
service said that in addition to the three killed, a fourth Israeli man,
32, was evacuated to hospital in critical condition.
Shay Retter, the head of Har Adar's
security committee, said that between 100 and 150 Palestinian laborers
typically enter the community each day for work. Local residents said
they knew the attacker from previous work he had carried out in the
community and were shocked to hear what he had done.
The military imposed a closure on the nearby Palestinian village of Beit Surik, the home of the attacker.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he
saw no difference between Palestinian terrorism and radical Islamic
terrorism targeting sites in Europe and elsewhere. "Before talking about
any kind of negotiations, the world must demand of the Palestinian
Authority to stop its incitement and encouragement of terror," he said,
alluding to Greenblatt's visit and his goal of securing Israeli
concessions toward the Palestinians.
Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz was even
blunter. "The attack is also a message to U.S. special envoy
Greenblatt," he said. "Israel's security was and yet remains the supreme
consideration in the government's policy, and is above any other
consideration of improving and easing the lives of the Palestinians."
Israel's Shin Bet security service
downplayed ideology as a motive, saying the attacker was plagued with
personal problems. The attacker was identified as Nimr Mahmoud Ahmed
Jamal and the Shin Bet said its preliminary investigation indicated
there was significant violence in his family. His wife had recently fled
to Jordan and left him with their four children, it said.
News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/09/26/terrorist-kills-3-israelis-in-attack-outside-jerusalem/
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