Attacks against Israeli motorists throughout areas of Yehuda and Shomron continue. B’chasdei Hashem most do not result injuries but even when there are injuries, the incidents are not judged by the fact they are acts of terror but by the severity of their outcome. This means most incidents go unreported.

On Tuesday morning 15 Sivan (Sunday to Monday) at about 1:00AM, attacks occurred on Highway 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in Highway near Beit Sira. Rocks were hurled at motorists along with boulders being rolled into the road, which was already slippery from oil spilled on the roadway by the terrorists to cause cars to spin out of control. In addition, firebombs were hurled at vehicles and according to reports from some drivers, albeit unconfirmed, gunfire was heard too.

Three people were injured in the attacks, including two Belgian tourists and an Israeli. They were transported to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem where they were treated and two persons in their 20s were released and a third victim, a woman, was kept for observation hospital officials reported on Tuesday morning. The Israeli was traveling on a bus and the tourists in a car.

IDF soldiers responded quickly to the attacks on 443, opening fire with live ammunition, killing one person. A second terrorist sustained serious wounds from IDF gunfire and others were apprehended and taken for questioning. Later on Tuesday IDF officials announced the 15-year-old Palestinian killed was likely an innocent bystander and not involved in the attack as he was struck by errant gunfire in his family’s vehicle as it passed the area. The other wounded were taken to a Ramallah hospital.

In another terror-related matter, gunfire was directed at vehicles near the Minharot Checkpoint on the Tunnel Highway connecting southern Jerusalem to Gush Etzion. B’chasdei Hashem no one was killed in that attack, which occurred during the Tuesday morning rush hour. One soldier sustained non-serious injuries when he was hit by a ricochet from a nearby cement barrier which was hit by the terrorist gunfire.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: IDF Spokesman’s Unit)