Palestinian terrorist explodes car bomb near capital; Israeli officer wounded

The latest Palestinian terror attack, a suicide car bombing near Jerusalem, may indicate the onset of a significant rise in the wave of terror against Israelis.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

In what appears to be a worrying escalation of the ongoing Palestinian violence against Israel, a female Palestinian terrorist detonated a car bomb in an apparent suicide attack on one of the main routes leading to Jerusalem Sunday morning.

The incident occurred when traffic policemen noticed a suspicious car driving on the route from Ma’ale Adumim towards Jerusalem and had the car pull over. When the officer asked the female terrorist to step out of the car, she exited the vehicle, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great” in Arabic) and pressed the trigger, exploding the car she was driving.

The police officer, in his 30s, sustained light burn wounds to his lower extremities. The terrorist, 20, sustained severe wounds. She was treated by Israeli medics on site, and then was evacuated to an Israeli hospital in the capital while still conscious. The officer was evacuated in stable condition.

Initial reports indicate that the car contained other explosive charges or gas balloons that did not explode, and therefore a much more deadly attack was averted.

The road was immediately closed to traffic. Police sappers were called in to de-arm the rigged car as thousands of motorists who were on their way to work were stuck in the traffic build-up for hours.

Israel’s IDF Radio reported the terrorist was pulled over for driving in a lane specified for public transport, thus committing a traffic violation. The car was bearing Israeli, rather than Palestinian, license plates, the report added.

This attack marks the first use of explosives and a suicide bomber in the current round of violence that has, until now, mostly been confined to stabbing and shooting attacks against Israelis in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.

This attack was the most recent in a seemingly endless string of Palestinian terror attacks. Palestinian terrorists carried out two stabbing attacks in Jerusalem on Saturday wounding five Israelis, before being shot dead by police. Four Israelis have been murdered in weeks of violence.

More Forces to Fight Terror

In wake of the ongoing wave of violence, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered on Saturday a massive call-up of Border Police forces in an effort to contend with the mounting wave of violence, which erupts at new flashpoints across the country on a daily basis.

Netanyahu approved the mobilization of 13 Border Police companies, in addition to the three that have already been mobilized.

During the security assessment held with security officials, it was noted that a reinforced presence is a preventive and deterrent measure that assists in maintaining order. The companies will be stationed in Jerusalem and throughout the country.

“I have ordered the mobilization of Border Police companies in order to restore security and order in Jerusalem and around the country. We will continue to do all that is necessary,” stated Netanyahu.

Netanyahu will convene an additional meeting on Sunday to discuss the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Movement, two organizations responsible for incitement against Israel and instigating the violence against Israelis. The security establishment has in recent days formulated a series of actions against the Islamic Movement and the incitement that it is fomenting.