Palestinian Sniper Kills Israeli Soldier in West Bank

Latest Developments

A Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier and wounded seven others in a West Bank ambush on March 22. According to Palestinian media, the Palestinian terrorist Mujahid Barakat Mansour was a former member of the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces.

The dawn attack on the road between the Israeli communities of Dolev and Talmon took several hours to unfold, as the lone terrorist fired at a bus from the cover of trees on high ground. He then fired at Israeli special forces who were pursuing him. The Israeli Air Force finally killed the perpetrator in a helicopter strike.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later identified the fallen Israeli soldier as 21-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Ilay David Garfinkel, a member of the IDF’s elite Duvdevan commando unit.

The attack followed Israeli air strikes in Jenin on March 20 and near Tulkarm on March 21 that killed multiple Palestinian terrorists. It also follows a February 29 attack by a PA security forces member who killed a man and a teenager at a West Bank gas station.

Expert Analysis

“This Palestinian sniper was a former member of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority security forces, which should raise new questions about the wisdom of Western tax money funding the arming and training of these supposedly moderate forces.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“An unsettling trend has surfaced amidst the more than two-year-long uptick of violence in the West Bank: the participation of former and current members of the Palestinian Authority security forces in violent attacks on Israelis. Though still relatively small, the number of officers implicated in these incidents is rising. This raises concerns not only about the Palestinian Authority’s limited control over law and order in the West Bank but also its ability to regulate its security services.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

“IDF Establishes New Unit to Combat Terror Tunnels in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“Palestinian Cop Murders Two Israelis in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“Palestinian Car-Rammers Strike in Israel,” FDD Flash Brief

“10 Things to Know About the Palestinian Authority,” FDD Flash Brief