Palestinian Terror Attack Kills One Israeli, Injures Six

Latest Developments

A Palestinian terrorist carried out a truck-ramming attack near the Maccabim Security Crossing on August 31, murdering one Israeli and injuring six others. The security crossing, situated adjacent to the Israeli city of Maccabim-Reut and approximately 15 miles northwest of Jerusalem, is located on a highway that stretches from central Israel into Jerusalem.

Avi Biton, commander of the Israeli Police’s Central District, identified the assailant as a 41-year-old Palestinian with a valid permit to work in Israel. After committing the attack, the terrorist attempted to flee the scene but was killed by security forces.

This tragic event follows another terror attack a day prior in which a 14-year-old Palestinian wounded a 22-year-old Israeli in a stabbing attack at a light rail station in Jerusalem. An off-duty police officer subsequently shot and killed the assailant. An additional attack took place that evening, when four Israeli soldiers were injured from an explosive device that detonated during an escort mission to secure Israeli worshipers to Joseph’s Tomb, near Nablus.

Expert Analysis

“These lethal Palestinian terror attacks will make it even more complicated for the Israeli government to consider any concessions to Riyadh as part of a Saudi-Israel normalization deal. As they’ve done for decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran and its terrorist proxies are fueling violence in order to blow up any peace prospects between Israelis and Palestinians.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“With attacks continuing and Israeli fatalities mounting, Prime Minister Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his top security chiefs. There will be pressure from his coalition partners, not to mention his political base, to take action in the West Bank. But the source of Israel’s security challenges lies much farther to the east. Tehran continues to foment this violence. Countering this activity will require more than tactical measures against local terror groups.” — Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Vice President for Research

“More Israelis have been killed in Palestinian terror attacks this year than in any year since the Second Intifada. From the sidelines, leaders of Iran-backed terror groups are cheering these murders and threatening a multi-front war. Despite the overt provocations, the cooperation between Jerusalem and Ramallah continues, and — at least for now — the Palestinian front has not devolved into a full-blown intifada. Both Netanyahu and Abbas have a strong interest in managing this conflict in a way that does not lead to an all-out war between Israel and the Palestinians.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

Related Analysis

“Iran and Its Network of Nineteen Terrorist Organizations on Israel’s Borders,” by Joe Truzman

“Israel Arrests Four Citizens for Smuggling Iran-Made Explosives,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran’s Multifront Strategy Against Israel,” by Jonathan Schanzer