Palestinian Shoots Up Israeli School Buses and Cars in West Bank’s Jordan Valley

Latest Developments

Palestinian terrorists wounded three people in a gun ambush on Israeli vehicles in the West Bank’s Jordan Valley on March 28. The Times of Israel reported that two school buses, which were bulletproof and therefore suffered no injuries, and at least two cars came under fire on the main Jordan Valley highway while passing through the Palestinian village of Al-Auja, north of Jericho. A 13-year-old Israeli boy in one of the cars was among the wounded. Israeli forces were searching the area for the assailant, who was seen firing his weapon in dash cam footage.

Expert Analysis

“The Jordan Valley has been largely spared the terrorism plaguing other parts of the West Bank. That has allowed rural Palestinian communities to pursue their lives alongside Israeli communities and the traffic running through the Jordan Valley highway from Jerusalem and the Dead Sea toward the Galilee. But Jericho has, in recent years, seen efforts by Hamas to set up local cells of gunmen for roving attacks focused on the highway south of Jericho. Israel cracked down on those speedily and must do the same again now lest the terrorists spread their reach northward.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“While Israel remains focused on the ongoing war in Gaza and the conflict with Hezbollah, the escalation of violence in the West Bank over the past two-and-a-half years remains a pressing security issue. Of particular concern are the violent attacks increasingly occurring in the Jordan Valley, a departure from the usual hotspots in the northern West Bank.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Related Analysis

“Palestinian Sniper Kills Israeli Soldier in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Thwarts Suicide Attack in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“West Bank Terror Tunnel Shafts Uncovered by IDF,” FDD Flash Brief