Fayyad: PA works to prevent such attacks
Photo: AP
Fayyad condemns West Bank attack
PA prime minister says murder of IDF soldier goes against Palestinian interests
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday condemned the stabbing attack at Tapuach Junction in the West Bank,
A Palestinian who served as a senior Palestinian securiyt officer was nabbed at the attack site after murdering IDF Sergeant-Major Ihab Khatib, 28.
A statement issued by Fayyad's office said, "The Palestinian Authority will continue to take any steps necessary to prevent the reoccurrence of such incident, which goes against Palestinian national interests as well as the Palestinian Authority's efforts and the obligations it has taken upon itself."
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"Our nation is united behind a non-violent popular struggle against the settlements, the separation fence, and attacks by settlers," it continued. "This struggle has the full backing of the PA as well as wide international support."
The perpetrator of the attack, Mohammad Khatib, comes from the village of Yaabed, near Jenin. Village residents said to Ynet that he was known to be a Fatah member and was a well-liked officer.
Nothing in his behavior recently hinted at his intentions, they said, questioning whether that he was in fact the attacker.
Khatib's family is identified with Fatah, and none of the family members is known to have been involved in attacks. One of Khatib's friends said that his relatives have been busy looking for a wife for him.
In addition, Khatib himself has only recently finished constructing a house, which was to be his home after marriage.
