As Yehuda Guetta, 19, was taking his final breaths at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva on Wednesday, Israel Police counter-terror and Shin Bet security agency personnel were approaching the hideout of the terrorist Muntasir Shalabi in Silwad, and called for him to exit the building.
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The surprised Shalabi came out with his hands raised, and after a brief interrogation in the field, he was transferred to a hospital for treatment and then to an undisclosed Shin Bet facility.
The terrorist attack at Tapuach Junction occurred at approximately 6 p.m. Sunday. Shalabi, who was driving, stopped near the hitchhiking spot at the junction and shot toward a group of students from Itamar Yeshiva. Two of them were critically wounded, one was lightly wounded.
The Shin Bet agents and Israel Police's elite counter-terror troops launched their manhunt shortly after the attack. Eyewitnesses were questioned, the many closed-circuit cameras at the scene were examined, human intelligence sources were activated and a special command and control center was established. The Shin Bet promptly acquired relatively solid information about the attacker's identity, Muntasir Shalabi, 44, from Turmusaya.
The Shin Bet also knew the location of the vehicle Shalabi had driven during the attack. Yet despite the temptation to approach the vehicle and run a forensic check on it, commanders opted to wait due to the risks involved, because the Shin Bet already had evidence pointing to Shalabi as the attacker.
Palestinians later torched the vehicle in an effort to erase the evidence. During their manhunt, security forces arrested 12 people suspected of aiding and abetting the terrorists, some of whom have already been released from custody.
On Wednesday, security forces received a tip that Shalabi was hiding out on a farm in the village of Aqraba. Israel Police counter-terror officers and Shin Bet agents who had arrived at the scene circled the structure and began pressuring Shalabi to exit. Several long minutes later it became clear that Shalabi was not there, although the Shin Bet is certain that at one point he was in fact inside before managing to escape.
On Thursday afternoon, the Shin Bet received another tip, this time indicating that Shalabi was in Silwad. Counter-terror police and Shin Bet teams were again dispatched to the scene and called on Shalabi to exit with his hands up just as Guetta was taking his last breaths.
When the surprised terrorist came out with his hands over his head, the Israeli security personnel realized he was wounded, likely from the shots fired by IDF soldiers who had pursued him immediately after the attack. The belief is that Shalabi received medical treatment while on the run.
Even at this early stage of the investigation, it is obvious that Shalabi does not fit the profile of the classic terrorist. He is relatively mature, 44, a father of seven, holds American citizenship, and a member of upper middle class.
Israeli security officials are trying to understand what motivated him to perpetrate the attack, as well as locate those who helped him escape and arrest them.
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