Israeli critically hurt in West Bank shooting
Man found shot near Kochav Hashahar settlement; airlifted to nearby hospital. Incident believed to be drive-by shooting attack; security forces canvas area for perpetrators
Moshe Avitan, a resident of the West Bank settlement of Kochav Hashahar suffered a critical gunshot wound to the head Monday, in what is believed to be a drive-by shooting attack involving a Palestinian vehicle. The incident took place near Kochav Hashahar, east of Ramallah.
Reports of a shooting near the settlement reached the IDF, police and Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services around 9 pm.
Avitan and his wife were apparently shot from a car speeding by them. The woman was unharmed and both were able to get to the settlement's entrance on their own.
MDA paramedics were immediately dispatched to the scene, later calling for an aerial assist. Avitan was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem via medevac and security forces began canvasing the area in search of the perpetrators.
Paramedic Tzuri Hezi said Avitan was shot in the cheek. "He was conscious at first, but his condition deteriorated. He said he couldn't see so we sedated and resuscitated him," the paramedic said.
According to him, Avitan pulled over after being shot, at which point his wife replaced him in the driver's seat and continued towards the settlement while alerting emergency services.
The Yesha Council said in response to the shooting that "due to the fighting in Gaza the terror group's are increasing their efforts to harm Israelis all over Israel, including the West Bank.
"The wholesale release of Palestinian prisoners and the helplessness of (Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's) government in fighting terror are fueling these attacks," Council head Gershon Mesika said.
The Yesha Rabbinical Council added: "The disengagement war in unfortunately going on in Judea and Samaria, with the Arab enemy trying to strike at Jews. The IDF must continue its blessed fighting pending the extermination of all our enemies throughout Judea and Samaria."
Earlier Monday, Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli bus traveling near Hawara, south of Nablus in the West Bank. No injuries were reported, but the bus was damaged.
