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Ramming and stabbing attack at Gush Etzion junction

omrif — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:23:34 +0000

A car ramming and stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction resulted in one murdered Israeli fatality and three others wounded. Three terrorists armed with knives carried out the attack and were neutralized by IDF troops stationed at the scene. Emergency medical teams treated the wounded at the site, while the IDF launched a manhunt in the region and surrounded the village where the perpetrators are believed to have come from.

The site of the attack on November 18, 2025 (Courtesy)

According to initial reports, a vehicle carried out a ramming attack at the Gush Etzion junction. Two terrorists then got out of the car and attempted to carry out a stabbing attack before being neutralized by forces at the scene.

Video: Car-ramming and stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction

Eli Bin, CEO of Magen David Adom, provided an initial update, saying, "There are 4 injured – one is in critical condition, two are in serious to moderate condition, and one is lightly hurt." One was later pronounced dead. Two other two victims were a 40-year-old owman and a 15-year-old boy.

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Blood-soaked hands: These are the notorious killers Israel will release

ErezL — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:39:49 +0000

The Justice Ministry released Friday a list of 250 life-sentence prisoners serving terms for murder and involvement in deadly attacks set to be released as part of the deal with Hamas. The terrorists belong primarily to Hamas, PIJ, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Fatah. Here are just some of the names.

One central Hamas operative designated for release is Imad Qawasmeh (52), who has been serving 16 life sentences since 2004 for involvement in a suicide bombing that killed 16 Israelis. According to the Prisoners Organization Media Office, he is one of the "leaders" of the terrorists in prison.

Imad Qawasmeh

The West Bank resident was involved in offenses including training terrorists, attempted murder, and conspiracy to cause death with intent. Qawasmeh is on the deportation list. During a 2004 operation, after the attack in which he was involved, he was captured by Israeli forces after his house was bombed and he escaped through a tunnel. He has a long history of attacks. He was first sentenced to five years in prison in 1994 when he assisted Hamas' "military wing" logistically. In 1999 he was released after completing his sentence, and eventually returned to terrorist activity in the Second Intifada.

Another Hamas operative designated for release is Qassem Aref Khalil al-Asafreh (36). In 2019 he was arrested after being involved in a stabbing attack in Gush Etzion, in which soldier Dvir Sorek was murdered.

Al-Asafreh was part of a terrorist cell with his cousin and another operative. The cell failed in two attempts before the attack. After the murder they planned another attack. Al-Asafreh is designated for deportation.

Muhammad Aref Samhan (55) is a terrorist who dispatched several suicide bombers, and is responsible for the attack on Bus Line 2, in which 23 people were murdered and 130 others were wounded. He is designated for deportation and belonged to the "Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades," from Fatah, during the Second Intifada.

Ibrahim Muhammad al-Raai (46) is a terrorist belonging to a Tanzim cell of Fatah. He is responsible for a bombing attack in the Casbah in Nablus, in which Osher Damari fell in 2006. Al-Raai was only arrested in 2022. He was recruited remotely by a terrorist from Gaza and worked to recruit additional terrorists. He was also involved in shooting attacks in the area of Joseph's Tomb. From the Shin Bet investigation it emerged that he participated in dozens of shooting attacks against Israeli forces and planting explosives.

Dvir Yehuda Sorek (Courtesy)

One of those designated for release to the West Bank, who is not designated for deportation, is Rashid Mahmoud Omar (48). He was convicted of causing death with intent, membership in a Fatah terrorist cell, shooting at people, attempted murder, and involvement in hostile actions. He was arrested several months after the end of the Second Intifada (summer 2005) in the village of Faraoon in Samaria. He was convicted of the murder of a Palestinian whom he accused of "collaboration with Israel."

Another Fatah operative is Raad Abd al-Aziz (45), who was convicted of offenses including causing death with intent, possession of firearms, attempted murder, and conspiracy to cause death with intent. He is a resident of the Ramallah area who has been in prison for approximately 20 years for terrorist activity in the Second Intifada. Al-Aziz is designated for deportation abroad.

From PIJ, Omar Mahmoud Bassis (60) is designated for release. He is a terrorist convicted of planting explosives, membership in a terrorist organization, shooting at people, and attempted murder. He was also captured during the Second Intifada, in 2004. Also from PIJ, Arafat Hamid Zir (43) is expected to be released to the West Bank area. He was convicted of membership in a terrorist organization, aiding murder, and incitement to murder, and entered prison in 2003.

Iyad Muhammad Abu al-Rub

Faisal Mahmoud Abdullah Khalifa (43) is also set to be released to the Samaria area and not be deported. He is a Hamas operative who has been in security detention since December 2024. He is accused of offenses including membership in a terrorist organization, providing shelter to wanted persons, storing weapons, and conspiracy to cause death with intent.

On the deportation list is Firas Sadiq Muhammad Ghanem (51). He is a security detainee from Jerusalem, who was captured during the Second Intifada. He is accused of offenses including state security, causing death with intent, possession of firearms, attempted murder, conspiracy to cause death with intent, and more. According to the Prisoners Organization, he is accused of participating in attacks when he belonged to the "Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades," the Fatah branch in those years. It was also noted that these attacks led to nine murdered Israelis.

Another person designated for release in the deal is Ibrahim al-Hani (54), a Popular Front operative sentenced to multiple life sentences for involvement in attacks in the Second Intifada. He has been in prison since 2006 and survived an assassination attempt in the past.

Another Popular Front operative is Ibrahim al-Qam (53), who is supposed to be released. He is serving two life sentences for involvement in terrorist activity. He is one of those designated for deportation.

Another Fatah operative designated for deportation is Atiyah Abu Samhadana (56), from the Gaza Strip. He was captured in 1996 for offenses including murder and use of dangerous drugs. He is one of the veteran prisoners, a Rafah resident arrested for terrorist operations. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, which is supposed to end this month.

From PIJ, Iyad Muhammad Abu al-Rub (51) is designated for release, a senior figure in the organization and "head of the military wing" in Jenin. He is responsible for planning a series of suicide bombings. He was involved in attacks at a club in Tel Aviv and a mall in Netanya. He is designated for deportation.

From Hamas, Alaa al-Din al-Karki (52) is designated for deportation. He is accused of causing death with intent, possession of weapons, throwing Molotov cocktails, attempted murder, and more. Al-Karki has been in prison since 1993.

Ibrahim al-Hani

Ghufran al-Zamel, fiancée of senior Hamas figure in prison Hassan Salameh, whom Israel refuses to release, appealed to Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Khaled Mashal, and Muhammad Darwish. "We, the families of veteran prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment, demand that you not give up on them. Abandoning them would be breaking a covenant that has lasted more than three decades. Do not abandon Sinwar's will and Muhammad Deif's commitment," she declared.

In the message she also mentioned the names of arch-terrorists Abdullah Barghouti, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayed, whom she calls to release along with Salameh.

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'Gush Etzion will not be separated': Right blasts plan to extend security barrier

ErezL — Fri, 19 May 2023 08:41:41 +0000

An Israel Hayom report on a plan to build a new section of the security barrier that would essentially separate Gush Etzion from the rest of the country infuriated MKs on the right.

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The Gush Etzion, just south of Jerusalem in Judea and Samaria, includes many Israeli settlements. It has for all intents and purposes become a suburb of the capital. The security barrier Israel has built in Judea and Samaria is designed to stop terrorists from crossing into Israeli cities, but it has never been completed due to various legal and environmental challenges. In the area of Gush Etzion the section that was set to be constructed has been in limbo for some 20 years in part because of concern over the impact it would have on the natural habitat of wildlife and because of political opposition to a de-facto border that would separate the area from Jerusalem and central Israel.

"Gush Etzion will not be severed from Jerusalem, definitely not on our watch," Liku MK Ariel Kallner told Israel Hayom. "Even though the battle against illegal crossing is very important, cutting the connection between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem is something that is beyond the pale, definitely in a right-wing government such as this one." He vowed to convene the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the matter "as soon as possible."

Limor Sonn Har Melech, from the far-Right party Otzma Yehudit, echoed his comments. "We are celebrating today [Thursday] Jerusalem Day [marking the reunification of the city in 1967] and the return of the People of Israel to many areas of the land; we won't let any community be isolated on our watch. The solution to the illegal crossings is not a fence but construction that would create territorial contiguity between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem."

According to the original Israel Hayom report, the construction of that section of the barrier is set to begin in the near term and land has already been expropriated. The overall result could be akin to making Gush Etzion settlements a de-facto enclave that is separate from the rest of the country even though it has long been part of the national consensus with a broad understanding on both the Left and the Right that it will remain under Israeli control in any future peace deal.

The new barrier will not be uniform because of the unique topographical features of the area and the efforts to minimize the impact on nature, and in some parts will not see construction but rather just special monitoring technology and sensors. Other parts that will be constructed will include special ramps for wildlife to cross.

The IDF said in a statement that "the decision to build the barrier in the area was made as part of Operation Breakwater [launched in 2023 in Judea and Samaria to eradicate terrorism] in order to boost defense and to prevent the illegal entry into the Israeli homefront of undocumented individuals and the trafficking of weapons, as well as to thwart terrorist attacks."

The statement further said that no date has been set for construction to begin and that it won't be a concrete barrier that is common in other parts of the project. "There is not going to be a severance of Jerusalem from Gush Etzion, and there are going to be other means of connecting the two. The IDF works to preserve nature and therefore the activity will be proportional and professional, and in collaboration with the various agencies and environmental organizations."

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Gush Etzion art exhibition highlights complex reality

ErezL — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:09:20 +0000

A new photo exhibition called "On the Road" is currently on display within the Gush Etzion community of Tekoa's Artists' Colony.

The exhibition, organized by the area's "Resilience Center" (Mercaz Hosen), highlights the complex realities of traveling on the roads in the area.

According to a statement, "The week-long exhibit is featuring photos taken by residents of Karmei Tzur, Ibei Hanachal, and Pnei Kedem, who took part in a workshop held by renowned photographer Meir Alipur and psychologist Einat Landskron, who serves a therapist. The photos reflect the reality on the area roads, in the eyes of the photographers."

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Unfortunately, the residents of Gush Etzion often traverse the beautiful roads in the area with trepidation and are seen by drivers and passengers through protected windows as a result of hostile attacks in the area.

The "On the Road" photo exhibition was created with a desire to give the residents who live in remote communities a chance to express themselves, as they travel to and from work on a daily basis, often with the fear of being targeted, which causes feelings of stress and insecurity.

Alipur and Landskron allowed participants to view their experience on these familiar roads in a different way, and to explore the beauty they see during their times of added vigilance.

Commenting on the exhibit, Gush Etzion Regional Council Head, and Yesha Council Chairman Shlomo Ne'eman said: "One of the ways to create resilience is through art, which both expands the mind and allows us to deal with reality. We see here a collaboration between the Resilience Center and the unique Artists' Colony in Tekoa, and we applaud the initiative."

Dr. Rachel Naumberg, head of the Resilience Center said: "By connecting to art in general and the world of photography in particular, we wanted to offer the residents additional perspectives on observing the paths they take every day. All of this is of course was only possible with the help of a military escort, which illustrates the inability to feel safe stopping on the sides of the road. Our Resilience Center works in different ways to strengthen the ability to cope and provide a sense of security and resilience among all our residents."

Pictures in the new exhibit shows reality on the area roads, through the eyes of the photographers (Photo: Eden Shavit) Eden Shavit

Na'ama Lahav, the curator of the exhibition, said: "The photographs hanging in the exhibition are equivalent to small open windows, and the goal is to give visitors the opportunity that the participants of the workshops had - to get out of the car freely, and touch the stones of the area, the plants, the people, and the landscapes."

She added: "Each photo is another step towards healing, both for the photographer, or the visitor, who will be able to see things differently, the next time they approach the spot where the photo was taken."

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Former US envoy visits Gush Etzion's Arugot Farms

ErezL — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 05:30:41 +0000

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman paid a visit to Gush Etzion's Arugot Farms on Wednesday. Friedman was joined by his son and grandson on the visit. The site has breathtaking views overlooking the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, Arad, and Jerusalem.

Friedman was hosted by the founders of the Arugot Farms Jeremy Gimpel, Ari Abramowitz, and Yossi Levitt.

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During his visit Ambassador Friedman told his hosts: "I give you much respect that you are beautifully building the Land of Israel. Keep up this important project. I'm sorry I didn't visit this place sooner."

Jeremy Gimpel Arugot Farms Co-Founder told Friedman: "When you spoke about moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, there were threats and some thought it would lead to war. But just the opposite happened. It led to a peace deal with four Arab countries. This shows that the Nation of Israel will only make peace through strength and not territorial concessions. Giving away land would be a tremendous mistake."

Yossi Levitt, co-founder of the Arugot Farms, told Friedman "You did more for Israel during your time as ambassador than was done in the past 70 years." He explained that the farmers "hosted the former ambassador to say thank you for everything he did for the benefit of Israel."

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The ongoing battle over illegal construction in Judea and Samaria

Oren Klass — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:04:56 +0000

According to Gabi Harow, a resident of the settlement of Nokdim in Gush Etzion, there have been massive changes in the landscape since he moved to the community with his family in 2012.

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"The amount of illegal Arab building and the takeover of the land have grown tremendously," he told Jewish News Syndicate. "You see structures going up all the time in our area and in the nature reserves between our community and the Judean Desert."

Harow said that Nokdim has been "slowly, slowly" losing its 150 acres of agricultural space.

"For residents, losing land, left and right, is a scary thought," he added. "It seems that the Israeli government has no problem intervening when it comes to illegal Jewish building, but doesn't prevent illegal Arab building."

Nokdim, along with the rest of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) are located in Area C which – under the Oslo Accords – is under full Israeli military and administrative control. Area C makes up roughly 60% of the area.

According to the latest West Bank Jewish Population Stats report, released last month, more than 475,000 Jewish residents live in Judea and Samaria, not including those in eastern Jerusalem.

Nadia Matar, co-founder with Yehudit Katzover of Israel's Sovereignty Movement, describes the phenomenon as a "war going on over our land," which "has been taking place for more than a decade."

Matar said the battle began 12 years ago with the introduction of the "Fayyad Plan."

Put forth in 2009 by then-Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the plan was to create a de facto Palestinian state, not through negotiations with Israel, but by establishing facts on the ground – such as houses, farms and schools – in strategic areas throughout Area C.

Last week, following the recent discovery of four new illegal Arab structures built on state land belonging to Nokdim, several hundred Gush Etzion residents – with the support of the Sovereignty Movement and approximately 10 additional nationalist organizations, politicians and other public figures – held a protest near the community, calling on the government to take action.

In response, the spokesperson for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, responsible for implementing policy in Area C, told JNS in an e-mail that COGAT, the Israeli governing body that operates in the West Bank, "is aware of the incident [of the four structures]," adding, "enforcement will be carried out in accordance with the authorities and procedures, and will be subject to priorities and operational considerations."

Peace Now director of Development and External Relations Brian Reeves told JNS that though he is not familiar with the details of the Nokdim case, "As to the larger claim that Palestinians are attempting, en masse, to take over Area C, it's kind of like how Christians in America fret about a 'war on Christmas' – the majority in power whining about failing to dominate as much as they would like and turning themselves into the victims."

Reeves added that though Arabs have, indeed, built thousands of structures in Area C, including on Israeli state land.

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"What they [right-wing organizations] don't tell you is that since 1967, most (99.76%) of state land that Israel has allocated in the West Bank has gone to Israeli interests, while only 0.24% has gone to Palestinians. So, there's virtually no chance that if you, as a Palestinian, live in Area C, that you'll ever get land allocated to you."

The problem, he concluded, "is [Israeli] policy – deliberate policy at this point – not a marginalized people who have little choice but to build illegally."

Matar disputes this claim.

"It's the Jews who aren't getting any permits to build," she insisted. However, she said, "We do agree that Israel should take complete responsibility and decide where Jews should build and where Arabs should build, but only under the sovereignty of the State of Israel."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Attempted stabbing attack thwarted at Gush Etzion Junction

ErezL — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:48:10 +0000

An attempted terror attack at the Gush Etzion Junction southwest of Jerusalem was thwarted on Tuesday when a knife-wielding assailant was shot dead by a civilian on the scene, according to the Israeli military. No other casualties were reported.

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As a result of the incident, which is still being investigated, the Israel Police closed route 367 to all traffic.

"The attempted terror attack ended as it should," said Gush Etzion Regional Council head Shlomo Ne'eman. "Any attempt at carrying out a terror attack in the State of Israel should end without casualties and with the terrorist dead. We thank the Gush Etzion hero, a civilian, who identified the threat and acted quickly and with determination, which brought about the necessary result."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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Settlement welcomes official status 20 years after founding

ErezL — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:25:38 +0000

Gush Etzion regional council chief Shlomo Ne'eman praised the Israeli authorities Thursday after one of the communities in the area was granted official status.

"Congratulations to the community of Pnei Kedem, to Gush Etzion, and to all of Judea and Samaria. We are partners in this historic step of strengthening our hold on the land of our ancestors," he said according to a statement released by his spokesperson.

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"The festive atmosphere continues today in Gush Etzion. Following yesterday's approval of 1,100 housing units in the communities in Metzad, Kfar Eldad, and Har Gilo, today (Thursday), on the second day of the meeting of the Higher Planning Council, 120 units were approved for the community," the statement continued.

Ne'eman also recited the "Shechiyanu" prayer, thanking God for allowing such a development to take place.

"We are partners in this historic step of strengthening our hold on the land of our ancestors," he said.

Ne'eman added, "The official registration of communities and the construction of new homes is real news. Beyond the current challenges that we are all currently preoccupied with, we must also be working on other crucial and long-lasting issues such as planting roots and perfecting the land. We send our gratitude to the Prime Minister of Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, for not letting this issue fall by the wayside."

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Teen terrorist who killed American Israeli Ari Fuld convicted for voluntary manslaughter

Noga Martin — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:10:01 +0000

A military court at the Ofer detention facility has convicted the terrorist who murdered Ari Fuld, an American Israeli, on a charge of voluntary manslaughter, which is considered the equivalent of murder.

On Sept. 16, 2018, Fuld arrived at the shopping center at Gush Etzion junction and was attacked by a 16-year-old who stabbed him in the back. Fuld pulled out his gun and managed to shoot his attacker, preventing the teen from stabbing other civilians who were in the vicinity.

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Fuld then collapsed and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. For his heroism, Fuld was posthumously awarded a civilian medal of valor.

Fuld's family put out a statement expressing their satisfaction with the verdict.

"We're happy about the ruling to convict the loathsome terrorist on the severest charge possible and we hope he will receive the maximum sentence. In a functional world, this terrorist criminal would get the death sentence to deter anyone who is thinking about going out and attacking Jews. There is one solution for future deterrence – the death sentence for terrorists," the family said.

The family asked that the nation's leaders wage a fierce battle against terrorism.

"We are appealing to the prime minister and the defense minister – we will carry the pain with us for the rest of our lives. Your job is to be strong. To defend the citizens of Israel on all fronts, to put down roots in our homeland, to deepen our hold on this good land, to strengthen [our] sovereignty in all parts of the homeland without bowing down to terrorism or being weakened by despicable murderers," the family said.

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New projects to make Judea and Samaria 'just like any other place'

ErezL — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 13:18:17 +0000

Transportation and Road Safety Minister Bezalel Smotrich is pursuing a policy that would bolster the road and rail infrastructure in Judea and Samaria with the goal of creating de facto annexation, Israel Hayom has learned.

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This program, described by the ministry as "sovereignty through transportation," would see the road connecting Jerusalem to Gush Etzion expanded at a cost of about 1 billion shekels (283 million dollars). A major new road from Gush Etzion southward will be built at a similar cost.

According to Smotrich's office, this new policy, which includes additional projects, are designed to "end the current isolation of Judea and Samaria when it comes to transportation planning so that the area is just like any other region in Israel."

To promote this agenda Smotrich has also created a special bureau for Judea and Samaria planning in his ministry. He has also had Judea and Samaria transportation projects integrated with national projects so that the residents of those areas can have their concerns addressed over the long term.

This means that a variety of issues that have previously been ignored by state agencies will have proper oversight, including road safety. It would also allow residents of Judea and Samaria to use the same general monthly or daily passes Israelis use all over Israel, known as the Rav Kav.

"For years, roads have been paved only because of coalition agreements within the government, and this has to stop," Smotrich told Israel Hayom. "Israelis and Palestinians live in Judea and Samaria and they are not going anywhere; they should get proper transportation, not just band-aid solutions."

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