One killed, eight wounded in West Bank terror attack

A 20-year-old man was killed and another eight wounded in a terror attack near the West Bank settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim on Thursday morning. 

According to Israeli Police, three Palestinian terrorists opened fire at vehicles in a traffic jam on Road 1 between the Zaitim junction and A-Zaim checkpoint.

Two of the terrorists were killed by security forces and were later identified as Muhammad Zawahra, 26, and his brother Kathem Zawahra, 31, both residents of the village of Ta’amra near Bethlehem.

Shin Bet identified the third terrorist as Ahmed Alohash, 31, from the area of Bethlehem.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the scene shortly after, repeating his claim that only more gun licences for Israeli civilians can combat the rise in terror attacks.

“The right to life of the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria outweighs the right to freedom of movement of the residents of the Palestinian Authority. I expect there to be more and more barriers here, there will be restrictions. We need to come to an understanding that our enemies are not looking for excuses. They only want to harm. I will fight for restrictions – it’s good that the prime minister accepts my principled position,” Ben-Gvir said.

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich also commented on the attack, demanding that Prime Minister Netanyahu “approve the convening of the higher planning council and immediately approve plans for thousands of housing units in Ma’ale Adumim and the entire region.”

“The serious attack on Ma’ale Adumim must have a decisive security response but also an answer from the settlements. Our enemies know that any harm to us will lead to more construction and more development and more of our control across the entire country,” he added.