Israeli forces foil stabbing in Huwara

(May 9, 2023 / JNS) Israeli Border Police foiled a terror attack in Huwara in Samaria on Tuesday, arresting a 22-year-old Palestinian in possession of two knives.

The suspect was acting suspiciously in the flashpoint Palestinian village, and was detained for questioning by security forces.

A letter to the suspect’s parents was also found on his person, in which he apologized and promised them they would receive large sums of money as a result of his terror activities.

It was an apparent reference to the Palestinian Authority’s “Pay-to-Slay” policy of providing monthly stipends to terrorists jailed in Israel and to their families.

On Thursday, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly wounded in a Palestinian stabbing attack in Huwara. The soldier was taken to hospital fully conscious and in stable condition.

Tuesday’s incident comes after a series of Palestinian terrorist attacks in Huwara, including the murder of brothers Hallel Yaniv, 21, and Yagel Yaniv, 19, on Feb. 26. Dual Israeli-U.S. citizen David Stern, 41, narrowly survived a shooting on March 19 while he was driving through the village with his wife on their way to Jerusalem.

Two Israeli soldiers were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the village on March 25. A few days later, dozens of Arabs stoned cars traveling through Huwara bearing Israeli license plates.

A public opinion poll conducted in early March showed that 71% of Palestinians supported the murder of the Yaniv brothers. Only 21% of those surveyed were against it and similar armed attacks.

In response, the IDF has upgraded the road infrastructure in Huwara to increase security for Israelis driving on Route 60, the highway that runs through the village. The number of lanes on Route 60 at Einabus Square in Huwara was doubled, from two to four. The IDF also removed a traffic circle at Yitzhar Junction that had been built as a traffic safety measure. Both projects are aimed at increasing speeds through the terror-stronghold village until the completion of a bypass road.

Also, a large number of IDF personnel have been deployed to the area and 13 new defensive positions were built to discourage attacks and to reduce response times in the event they take place.

The IDF’s Samaria Brigade has also bolstered security inspections, including the deployment of additional checkpoint barriers.