Soldier killed in West Bank knife attack
IDF soldier sitting inside jeep near Tapuach Junction stabbed twice in chest by Palestinian; Assailant apprehended after onlooker runs him over with car. Terrorist reportedly served as senior officer in Palestinian security forces
An IDF soldier was killed Wednesday after being stabbed by a Palestinian while sitting in his jeep near the Tapuach Junction, located south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
The victim has been identified as a village of Maghar resident, Sergeant Major Ihab Khatib, a non-commissioned officer in the Kfir Brigade.
Judea and Samaria District Police officers apprehended the terrorist. The knife used in the attack was found at the scene. Israeli security officials said the terrorist acted alone.
The attacker, Mohammad Khatib from the village of Yabed, reportedly served as a senior officer in the Palestinian security forces. He was transferred to the security forces for investigation.
The incident occurred at around 1:50 pm, while the jeep was stuck in a traffic jam. The Palestinian terrorist stabbed the soldier twice in the chest through the open car window.
The Israeli soldier tried to flee the scene, but his jeep overturned into a ditch.
Bound terrorist at scene of attack
A security officer from the nearby Jewish settlement Rachelim, who happened to be at the scene, ran the terrorist over with his car. The Palestinian sustained very mild injuries.
"I was in my car when I saw a man approach another vehicle and stab the person inside. I realized I was witnessing a terror attack. The terrorist began running away, but I kept my cool, drove after him and managed to hit him with my car," the security officer, Yossi Margalit, told Ynet.
"I stepped out of my car, apprehended the terrorist and turned him over to the security forces," he recounted.
Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) said in response to the stabbing, "The Netanyahu government is busy removing roadblocks and allowing Palestinians to travel freely. The army is busy clashing with settlers, and these are the results. The blood of the West Bank's residents has become cheap."
The Shomron Settlers' Committee said, "It is no surprise that when the defense minister (Ehud Barak) is enforcing the racist (settlement construction) freeze and the false arrests of settlers, the terrorists and their accomplices are having a field day."
In October 2009 an Israeli woman was seriously wounded from stones thrown at her vehicle near the Tapuach Junction. Her husband was lightly wounded.
Hanan Greenberg and Raanan Ben-Zur contributed to the report
