MOBILE DEVICES
Free Headline Alerts     
Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Thursday, February 11, 2010     GET REAL

Palestinian security officer knifes Israeli soldier to death in West Bank

RAMALLAH — A Palestinian Authority security officer, in the first such incident in years, has killed an Israeli soldier, Middle East Newsline reported.   

Israeli military sources said a PA police officer knifed an Israeli soldier to death in the northern West Bank. They said the PA police officer attacked the Israeli in his jeep as he was driving from Ramallah to Nablus on Feb. 10.

"The NCO was sitting in his vehicle with his window open when the terrorist pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest," a military statement said.


Also In This Edition


The attacker was captured by a security officer from a nearby Jewish community. The knifer was identified as Mahmoud Al Khatib, a Palestinian police officer from the West Bank village of Yabed. The PA has confirmed the Israeli report.

This marked the first time in years that a PA security officer killed an Israeli soldier. Al Khatib was said to belong to the ruling Fatah movement, which has claimed responsibility for a spate of recent attacks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"The IDF Central Command notices a rise in motivation to execute terror attacks throughout Judea and Samaria [West Bank]," the military said. "Since the beginning of the year, over 20 knives and 12 explosive devices were discovered by security forces in the Judea and Samaria."

Military sources said Al Khatib, whose home was later raided by Israeli troops, acted alone in his attack on the Israeli soldier. They said Al Khatib was reported to have been depressed and decided he would kill an Israeli as his final act.

Critics asserted that the Fatah attacks were facilitated by Israel's decision to remove roadblocks and expand the freedom of movement by PA officers in the West Bank. They said the military has also come under pressure by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to limit military operations in the West Bank.

The PA has acknowledged that one of its security officers killed an Israeli soldier. PA officials said the killing would not hamper a U.S.-financed program to train PA security officers.

"Such an incident undermines national Palestinian objectives, and the PA commitments," PA Prime Minister Salam Fayad said.



About Us     l    Contact Us     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2010    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.