Civilian shoots Palestinian in attempted stabbing attack in the West Bank

The terrorist tried to stab an Israeli driver while he was stuck in a traffic jam at the Bitot Junction.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The scene of an attempted terrorist attack just south of Nablus (photo credit: NADAV GOLDSTEIN/TPS)
The scene of an attempted terrorist attack just south of Nablus
(photo credit: NADAV GOLDSTEIN/TPS)
A terrorist attempted to stab an Israeli driver while stuck in a traffic jam at the Bitot Junction near the village of Huwara, located south of Nablus in the West Bank on Wednesday morning.
According to a statement from the IDF, the terrorist was shot by a civilian and neutralized after trying to carry out a stabbing attack in the area. The Palestinian was transferred to Belinson Hospital in critical condition and died from his wounds.
Yehoshua Sherman, director of URP's field division, was in the vehicle that the Palestinian holding a knife tried to open the door. "I left the vehicle while the terrorist tried to overtake the next vehicle. I neutralized him by gunfire while assisting another resident from a nearby settlement who was behind me," Sherman said.
"This incident illustrates the importance of completing the construction of the Huwara bypass as agreed with the prime minister," said the head of the Shomron Regional Council Yossi Dagan. Dagan also backed the father who neutralized the terrorist and saved his daughter.
Samaria has been a hot bed for terrorist attacks and attempted terrorist attacks in recent months.
Late last month, a bus was set alight after terrorist allegedly threw a Molotov Cocktail at it in the northern West Bank near the settlement of Kedumim, according to local media reports.
The bus was damaged, however, there were no injuries as it was empty.
Just days before two Israelis were lightly injured after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at their vehicle in the northern West Bank, close to the city of Nablus.
On March 18, two Israelis, a 19-year-old soldier and 47-year-old father of 11, were killed in a terrorist attack near the settlement of Ariel.
An IDF officer was seriously injured and a Border Police soldier was lightly injured after Palestinians rammed them with their car during an arrest operation in the West Bank, the military reported following the event.
The force opened fire on the vehicle’s three occupants, killing two and wounding the third, who was arrested. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the two killed as 20-year-olds Amir Mahmoud Darraj from the Kharbatha al-Misbah village and Youssef Raed Mahmoud Anqawi from Beit Sira. The injured Palestinian, also aged 20, was identified as Haitham Jumaa Alqam from the village of Safa.
Anna Ahronheim and Ilanit Chernick contributed to this report.