Israeli forces thwart Palestinian terror attack in Samaria

A Palestinian terrorist tried to stab an IDF soldier in Samaria, but alert security forces prevented the attack.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

A Palestinian terrorist tried stabbing an IDF soldier at the Tapuach Junction in Samaria Thursday morning, but was shot dead during his attempt.

No Israelis were injured in the incident.

A Palestinian vehicle reportedly arrived at the Tapuach Junction and stopped close to a guard post, where soldiers and Border Police were stationed. The terrorist emerged from the vehicle and ran towards the soldiers with a knife in hand. Forces noticed the threat and fired at the terrorist.

Security forces later launched a search for the vehicle.

Sergeant S., who was apparently the target of the attack, later related that “if my comrades had not operated so quickly and professionally, it is very likely that I would not be standing here.”

“I am glad we brought the incident to a speedy end and avoided loss of human life and hurting innocents,” one of the responding officers said.

The Tapuach Junction has been the site of several recent attacks.

Overnight Wednesday, IDF forces carried out an extensive counter-terrorism operation in the Samaria region.

In another raid in the area, forces arrested five wanted terror suspects in Kfar Katana, where they seized a large cache of weapons and other terrorism-related materials.

IDF officials said that the village is a hotbed of terrorism. A number of terrorists who carried out attacks throughout the country, including the murderer of IDF soldier Ziv Mizrahi on Monday, came from there.

These incidents were the latest in a long series of Palestinian terror attacks that have plagued Israelis over the course of the past two months, claiming the lives of 21 victims and wounding 190.