Israeli security forces were quickly deployed to the Har Ebal area north of Shechem following a report of a shooting attack at an Israeli vehicle.

Upon arriving at the scene, IDF forces located the driver, an Israeli civilian and resident of Shomron, who, B’Chasdei Hashem, was unharmed. A bullet hole was found in the car’s hood.

An initial investigation indicated that the driver mistakenly entered the outskirts of Shechem. While attempting to return to the main road near the city’s entrance checkpoint, he noticed three Palestinian police officers. According to his account, one of them ran at his vehicle and fired a handgun.

The resident managed to speed toward an IDF checkpoint at Har Ebal.

The Palestinian officers claimed that the vehicle accelerated toward them and they felt threatened, and therefore opened fire.

The IDF spokesperson said in response, “After a briefing at the site, it appears that this was most likely not a terror attack.”

Once the incident became known, coordination and liaison mechanisms between Israeli and and Palestinian security forces were immediately activated to clarify the circumstances of the case. The incident is being examined through dialogue between the sides.

The IDF reiterated that “entry into Area A is prohibited and dangerous for Israelis.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)