Palestinian policeman wounds 3 IDF soldiers in attack

As further proof that the Palestinian Authority is directly involved in incitement to terror, a Palestinian policeman opened fire at IDF soldiers near Beit El, wounding three, before being killed.

A Palestinian terrorist, a member of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) security forces, on Monday shot at IDF soldiers manning the Focus checkpoint near the Israeli community of Beit El, wounding three of them.

Members of the unit fired back at the terrorist and killed him.

The three victims, one in moderate condition and two with light shrapnel wounds, were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem for treatment.

Later at night, IDF forces raided the home of the terrorist and arrested his brother. Likewise, work permits issued by Israel to work in it held by his family members were cancelled.

The terrorist was identified as Mohammed Turkaman, 25 of Kabatyia. He had worked as a security guard at the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah and used the assault rifle issued to him by the PA to carry out the attack.

According to Palestinian reports, after finishing his shift at parliament, he took his weapon and set out to carry out the shooting. Israel Radio quoted Palestinian officials who said that police are supposed to hand over their weapon when they finish a shift and not take it with them, and that Turkaman had done so without authorization.

“Manning a checkpoint is a challenging mission. Hours of mundane service watching vehicles go by, looking for suspicious movements. Hours and hours of being prepared to respond to that split moment when an attacker engages. Today the soldiers were prepared, responded and the gunman was shot. Join me in saluting those that step forward in the line of fire and wish the wounded a hasty recovery,” IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner stated after the attack.

Hamas welcomed the attack, and called on the Palestinian security forces to take part in the violent actions against Israel.

This is the fifth terrorist attack committed by a PA security officer against Israeli targets, and the third to occur this past year.

In January 2016, a PA-employed Arab shot at the Focus checkpoint and wounded three IDF soldiers. He was shot dead in the exchange of fire.

In December 2015, a PA policeman shot and wounded an IDF soldier and killed an Arab who was in the area, near the village of Hizmeh.

In November 2015, a PA policeman fired at an IDF patrol by the town of Silwad and then fled the scene. He was turned over to PA forces by his father and is currently serving a 10 year sentence in a PA prison.

In related news, IDF forces conducted counter-terrorism operations through Judea and Samaria late Monday night and arrested 10 Palestinians wanted in connection with terrorism.

This incident was the latest in a long series of Palestinian terror attacks which have plagued Israelis over the course of more than a year, claiming the lives of 41 victims and wounding over 550.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

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