European envoys condemn deadly West Bank car-ramming
Right-wing MKs call for West Bank annexation, blame Trump after Palestinian driver kills Israeli soldier
The European Union’s envoy to Israel denounced a car-ramming at a West Bank junction that killed one Israeli soldier and left another lightly injured Thursday.
The Israel Defense Forces said a Palestinian driver slammed into soldiers at bus stop near the Ofra settlement, killing Sgt. Elhai Teharlev who was guarding the spot.
“I condemn the attack at Ofra which left one Israeli dead, days before families sit down for their Passover Seder. Violence must stop,” Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen wrote on Twitter.
French Ambassador Helene Le Gal also wrote on Twitter that she “condemns the terrorist attack.”
Teharlev, 20, served in the Golani Brigade. He was from the Talmon settlement, northwest of Ramallah.
The driver was identified by Palestinian media as Malek Ahmad Mousa Hamed, 21, from the nearby town of Silwad. He was captured by the Israel Defense Forces, an army spokesperson said.
The IDF said the incident was considered a deliberate attack and troops were dispatched to the attacker’s home to question his family.
Housing Minister Uri Ariel from the hawkish Jewish Home party responded to the car-ramming by calling for the annexation of the West Bank, saying that Israel’s failure to set up any new settlements in the past 20 years encouraged attacks.
Although Israel has expanded existing settlements, it has not officially established new communities. Last week, the government approved a plan to set up the first new settlement in some 25 years, drawing international censure.
“It transmits to our enemies that their pressure works,” Ariel said referring to the dearth of newly established settlements.
Fellow Jewish Home MK Bezalel Smotrich said Palestinian attackers had been emboldened by the US administration’s support for the Palestinian Authority and the Middle East peace process.
“With renewed hope among the Arabs over Trump’s obsession with them, the murderous terrorism is renewed,” he wrote on his Twitter feed. “It is time to internalize — only reducing their hope will end terror.”
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog offered his condolences to the family of the victim.
“A sad morning. On the eve of the Passover holiday, another victim of criminal terror. I trust the cherished IDF, Shin Bet, and security forces. Condolences from the bottom of my heart to the family of the killed person. May his memory be blessed.”
The week-long Passover holiday begins Monday night.
The two soldiers were standing on the sidewalk near a bus stop at the Ofra junction on the Route 60 highway, northeast of Ramallah.
Teharlev was reportedly critically wounded when the car struck him. He received medical treatment, but was pronounced dead on the scene, MDA said.
The second soldier was lightly hurt with injuries to his legs. He was taken to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus, a hospital spokesperson said.
The attack came as Israeli officials have warned of a possible increase in violence surrounding the Passover holiday.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Hamas terror group said the incident proved a spate of stabbing and car-rammings that had appeared to wane in the past year was not over, calling for more attacks.
“Supporting the intifada in all its dimensions is a duty and a national priority,” a spokesperson said.
Dov Lieber contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.