IDF foils second attempted attack in run-up to Yom Kippur
Palestinian woman shot after trying to stab soldier in Hebron, hours after suspected terrorist blows himself up near Hebron
Joshua Davidovich is The Times of Israel's Deputy Editor
A Palestinian woman was shot and injured after attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in the West Bank city of Hebron, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday morning.
It was the second attack on Israeli troops in the hours before Jews mark Yom Kippur, the 25-hour fast that is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
The suspected attacker was shot in the leg and was in serious to critical condition. The soldier was unharmed.
The suspect was being treated at the scene, the Israeli military said in a statement.
“A Palestinian attempted to stab an IDF soldier at a military position in Hebron. IDF forces responded, fired toward the perpetrator and identified a hit,” the army said.
A video purporting to be from the scene shows a black-clad woman lying on the ground after being shot, with an Israeli warning others to avoid approaching her for fear she could have an explosive in a bag.
Hours earlier, a Palestinian youth was killed near Hebron when a grenade he was holding apparently exploded in his hands, Walla reported.
https://twitter.com/IsraelHatzolah/status/646197585380790272
The attempted attacks come as Israel has bolstered security forces in Jerusalem and the West Bank ahead of the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, which begins later Tuesday, and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which starts a day later.
Israeli officials said Monday they would place a general closure on the West Bank during Yom Kippur, which ends Wednesday evening, and would also deny access to the Temple Mount to Muslim men under age 40.
Tensions have spiked in the area since Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians several times atop the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem, sparking an uptick in rock throwing and Molotov cocktail attacks in and around the capital.
Hebron is often the scene of tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, who both live in the city, which is home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the second holiest site in Judaism. Muslims also revere the site as the Ibrahimi Mosque.
