Israeli soldier wounded in Ariel attack no longer in life-threatening condition
Alexander Dvorsky, who was seriously hurt by a Palestinian gunman in a deadly West Bank attack, regained full consciousness, say doctors; manhunt for 20-year-old suspect, who escaped with an M-16 rifle, still ongoing
Alexander Dvorsky, 19, has apparently regained full consciousness and is communicating with the medical staff at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where the soldier has been hospitalized since the attack on Sunday. Dvorsky’ condition has been upgraded from serious to moderate-serious.
Dvorsky was shot Sunday morning by 20-year-old Omar Abu Lila, who also shot dead 19-year-old Staff Sergeant Gal Keidan and critically wounded 47-year-old Rabbi Achiad Ettinger. The father of 12 succumbed to his wounds in a hospital a day later.
The 19-year-old immigrated to Israel from Moldova alone several years ago before being joined by his mother and grandmother. The soldier's family now lives in the northern city of Nazareth Illit in the Galilee.
The Sunday's incident apparently began when the 20-year-old suspect stabbed Keidan at the Ariel Junction and then stole his rifle and shot him. The assailant used the weapon to fire at three vehicles, hitting Rabbi Ettinger and then hijacking a car, which he drove to another junction nearby where he shot Dvorsky before continuing on to a nearby Palestinian village, said the military.
In the meantime, a manhunt for the suspect who fled the scene with the soldier’s M-16 rifle continues, as Israeli security forces raided the terrorist’s hometown—the village of Az-Zawiya—as well as the area of the Ephraim Regional Brigade, early Tuesday morning.
As part of the pursuit for the suspect, the security forces detained 15 Palestinians suspected of being involved in terror activity. They were taken for further questioning.
The manhunt is being conducted mainly in Palestinian villages adjacent to the area of Sunday’s attack. In addition, the security officials continue the intelligence efforts in order to locate perpetrator and the stolen weapon he might use to commit further attacks.
In order to avoid similar incidents in the future, the defense establishment ordered to reinforce the areas in the West Bank where soldiers are stationed, including the Ariel Junction. Large concrete blocks have already been put up in some locations to ensure safer conditions for the troops.
