Palestinian Terrorists Kill Israeli Motorist

Latest Developments​

Palestinian terrorists from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades killed an Israeli motorist in the West Bank on Tuesday. The 32-year-old married father of two was shot dead in his car as he drove to his home in Hermesh. The killers escaped with Israeli forces in pursuit. 

The Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack; however, they did not provide evidence to support their statement. Formally, the Brigades are the armed wing of Fatah, the party led by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. In practice, the Brigades do not appear to be under Abbas’ control, although he rarely condemns their attacks.

On Monday, a member of the PA’s General Security Service was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces as they carried out an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Fatah said the deceased individual was also a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. 

Expert Analysis​

“All terrorism is intolerable but especially so when it emanates from the supposedly ‘legitimate’ circles of Palestinian power. We learned 20 years ago, at the height of the so-called Second Intifada, that the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were part of a chain of command headed by Fatah and its leader, Yasser Arafat. Mahmoud Abbas does not exercise the tight control that Arafat once did, yet he incites and legitimizes terrorism with his rhetoric, including crude antisemitic remarks, as well as his payments to terrorists and their families in violation of U.S. law. Western powers must make it clear to Abbas that his credibility as a leader — and their engagement with him — is on the line.”  — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“These incidents will occasion a serious review by Israel of its coordination with PA security forces given their evident penetration by men who are prepared to turn their guns against Israelis. And that would cause further destabilization of the West Bank after more than a year of upheaval.” — Joe Truzman, Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Six Attacks This Week

In addition to the two incidents described above, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported four armed attacks this week targeting Israeli communities and military forces in the West Bank. On Sunday, armed terrorists attacked the Israeli towns of Mevo Dotan and Gan Ner. Islamic Jihad’s Jenin branch claimed responsibility for the shootings and provided proof of the attacks. On Sunday night, the IDF thwarted an attempted bombing on Alon Road near the West Bank village of Mughayir. IDF troops also came under gunfire on Monday evening near Kiryat Arba, causing no injuries.

Related Analysis

“Iran-Backed West Bank Chaos,” by Joe Truzman

“Jordanian MP Who Smuggled Weapons into West Bank Repatriated by Israel,” FDD Flash Brief