News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (November 18 – 24, 2015)

Deadly Attacks in Tel Aviv, Gush Etzion and Route 443

Stabbing Attack in Tel Aviv

•  On the afternoon of November 19, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist stabbed three Israelis in the "Panorama House" in south Tel Aviv. Two were killed and the third was seriously wounded. Armed with a large knife, Palestinian entered the synagogue on the second floor of the building and stabbed worshippers. He was apprehended by a civilian who restrained him until the police came.
•  The terrorist was a Palestinian from the region of Hebron who was in Israel legally and worked in a nearby restaurant. The Palestinian media reported he was Ra'ed Muhammad Jabra Masalma, 35, married and father of five. He originally came from Bayt 'Awwa and lived in Dura, southwest of Hebron (QudsN, November 19, 2015).^[1]

Shooting and Stabbing Attacks in Gush Etzion

•  On the afternoon of November 19, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist armed with an Uzi submachine gun opened fire at Israeli vehicles in a traffic jam near Alon Shvut (southwest of Bethlehem). He killed three (two Israelis, one with American citizenship, and a Palestinian) and wounded five.
•  The Palestinian terrorist drove to the site on the road between Alon Shvut and the Gush Etzion Junction, where traffic had stopped. He drove around the jam and shot indiscriminately through the front window of his car. He then hit a car and stopped. Three people were killed and five suffered minor wounds. The shooter was apprehended and taken for questioning.
•  The Palestinian was Muhammad Abd al-Basset al-Haroub, 24, from Deir Samet, south of Hebron (Ghaza al-A'an, November 19, 2015). His house flew a Hamas flag (PalInfo, November 21, 2015). His mother claimed she was the "mother of a hero" (Facebook page of PALDF, November 19, 2015).
•  On November 22, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist went to a bus stop at the Gush Etzion Junction and stabbed a 21 year-old girl. A soldier shot and killed him. The girl was mortally wounded and later died. The terrorist was a 34 year-old Palestinian from Bayt Fajar.
•  The Palestinian media reported that the stabber was Issam Ahmed Salman Thawabtah, 31, from Bayt Fajar, south of Bethlehem (Facebook page of Beit Fajar, November 22, 2015). Fatah in Bayt Fajar issued a death notice for the "heroic shaheed" (Facebook page of Ayn al-Bayt Fajar, November 22, 2015). His mother told a local TV station that she was "proud of her son, who lifted his head up high" (Facebook page of Ayn al-Bayt Fajar, November 22, 2015).

Left: Death notice issued by Fatah in Bayt Fajar. Right: Issam Ahmed Salman Thawabtah, 31, from Bayt Fajar (Facebook page of Ayn al-Bayt Fajar, November 22, 2015).

Stabbing Attack on Route 443

•  On November 23, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist used a knife to stab two IDF soldiers at the gas station on Route 443 (which connects Modi'in with Jerusalem). An IDF soldier and female IDF officer got out of their car after an accident. A terrorist ran up to them and stabbed and killed the soldier and then stabbed the officer, who incurred minor wounds. The terrorist was shot and killed.
•  The Palestinian media reported that the terrorist was Ahmed Jamal Ahmed Taha, 21, from the village of Qatanna, north of Jerusalem (Facebook page of QudsN, November 23, 2015). He dropped out after elementary school and worked at odd jobs to help support the family (YouTube, November 23, 2015). The Facebook page of Qatanna praised him, calling him a "hero" and "blessing his right hand" (Facebook page of Qatanna, November 23, 2015). Hamas issued a death notice for "the hero who died [fighting] in jihad," who had "carried out a heroic stabbing attack" west of Ramallah (Facebook page of Qatanna, November 23, 2015).

Other Terrorist Attacks in Judea, Samaria and Israel

•  On November 24, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist carried out a vehicular attack at the Tapuah Junction (south of Nablus). At around eight in the morning the terrorist drove from the direction of the village of Huwwara to the junction, where Border Policemen are stationed. He sped up, veered out of his lane and ran into three security force soldiers, who incurred minor to serious injuries. Border Police shot at the car, wounding the driver seriously. The Palestinian media reported that the terrorist was Azmi Suhail Azmi Nafaa', 21, from Jenin, a law student in his fourth year at Al-Najah University in Nablus (Facebook page of PALDF, November 24, 2015).

Left: Azmi Suhail Azmi Nafaa' (Facebook page of PALDF, November 24, 2015). Right: The scene of the vehicular attack at the Tapuah Junction (Facebook page of QudsN, November 24, 2015).

•  On November 23, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist was shot to death while attempting to stab an IDF soldier near Huwwara, in the Nablus region. The Palestinian media reported he was Alaa' Khalil Sabah Hashash, 16, from the Iskar refugee camp in Nablus (Facebook page of QudsN, November 23, 2015). Fatah's military-terrorist wing in the Balata refugee camp and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) both issued death notices for the terrorist (Dunia al-Watan, November 23, 2015).
•  On November 23, 2015, an Israel civilian was injured by a car near the community of Homesh (northern Samaria). The attacker fled. The Israeli incurred minor injuries. It is unclear whether he was the victim of a terrorist attack or a hit-and-run accident.
•  On the morning of November 23, 2015, there was a stabbing attack near the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem:

• Two Palestinian girls, both equipped with scissors, stabbed a 70 year-old man in the head. The man, a Palestinian from Bethlehem, incurred minor wounds. A policeman shot the two girls, killing one and seriously wounding the other. A passerby was wounded in the arm by the gunfire.
• The Palestinian media reported that the girls were Hadil Wajia Awad, 16, who was shot to death, and Nurhan Ibrahim Awad, 14, who was wounded. They were cousins from the Qalandia refugee camp (Facebook page of PALDF, November 23, 2015). Hadil Awad's brother was Mahmoud Wajia Awad, a former prisoner, who was killed on November 28, 2013, during a clash with IDF forces at the Qalandia crossing point (Ghaza al-A'an and Ma'an, November 23, 2015).

Left: Nurhan Awad (left) and Hadil Awad (right). (Facebook page of QudsN, November 23, 2015). Right: Hadil Awad (Facebook page of PALDF, November 23, 2015).

•  On November 22, 2015, a stabbing attack was prevented at the Huwwara roadblock (near Nablus). A female Palestinian terrorist tried to stab civilians. A civilian who stopped his car to pick up passengers saw the attempted attack and rammed into the terrorist. A soldier and a civilian shot and killed her. The Palestinian media reported that she was Ashraqat Tah Ahmed Qatanani, 16, from the Iskar refugee camp in Nablus (Facebook page of QudsN, November 22, 2015). Her father, Sheikh Tah Qatanani, claimed that if his daughter had carried out an attack, she had fulfilled her national, moral duty, and he was proud of her.
•  There was a wave of responses to death of Ashraqat Qatanani:

• The foreign ministry of the Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the "terrorist attack" that led to the death of Ashraqat Qatanani and claimed it had become acceptable among Israelis. He also condemned the shots fired at Shadi Hadib at Ma'aleh Adumim (see below) and the silence of the international community (Ma'an News Agency, November 22, 2015). It should be noted that the PA consistently does not admit that terrorist attacks are carried out or the existence of the current Palestinian terrorist campaign.
• Ismail Haniya, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, telephoned the father of the terrorist. He expressed admiration for the family's stance and courage. He claimed Ashraqat Qatanani had been killed for to liberate Palestine and that her death had not been in vain (Hamas website, November 23, 2015).
• Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, condemned the death of the terrorist, claiming it had been encouraged by the Netanyahu government. He claimed her death was a "serious war crime," and that such "crimes" encouraged the Palestinian people to continue the intifada in self-defense (Hamas website, November 22, 2015).

Left: Hamas death notice for Ashraqat Qatanani (Facebook page of PALDF, November 22, 2015). Right: Ashraqat Qatanani (Paltoday satellite TV station, November 23, 2015).

•  On November 22, 2015, a Palestinian drove a taxi to the Kfar Adumim Junction (northeast of Jerusalem) and tried to run over civilians. When he did not succeed, he got out of the car and tried to stab them with a knife. A civilian shot and killed him. Another civilian incurred minor wounds. The Palestinian terrorist was Shadi Hadib, 30, from Al-Bireh (Facebook page of QudsN, date, 2015). Hadib's wife said he had gone to work that morning. Later she was told he had become a shaheed. She said, "Praise be to Allah" (Facebook page of the Palestinian ministry of health in Ramallah, November 22, 2015).
•  On the evening of November 21, 2015, there was a stabbing attack in the southern Israeli city of Qiryat Gat: A Palestinian terrorist stabbed four people on King David Street, and then fled. The four victims were a man, two women and a 13 year-old girl. After an extensive search, during which residents were told to remain at home, Shaker Muhammad al-Tirda, 17, from the village of Taffuh in the Hebron region (southwest of Hebron) was apprehended.
•  The terrorist was in Israel illegally and worked in construction. A knife was found in his possession. Two other Palestinians in Israel illegally were also detained. The Palestinian media reported he was Shaker Muhammad Muhammad al-Tirda, 17, from the village of Taffuh. Two other Palestinians from Taffuh who had helped him to enter Israel, were also detained (Ma'an News Agency, November date, 2015).
•  On November 21, 2015, a 27 year-old Palestinian woman from Yatta (near Hebron) went to an IDF post near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. She aroused the suspicions of the Border Policemen stationed there and they examined her. She had a knife and was suspected of planning a stabbing attack. She was taken for questioning.
•  On November 21, 2015, a Palestinian terrorist tried to run over a Border Policeman in Abu Dis, near Jerusalem. During a routine exam at the roadblock a vehicle drove at a Border Policeman, who managed to avoid it, incurring minor injuries. Other Border Policemen stationed there shot at the vehicle but the driver managed to escape.
•  On November 21, 2015, a stabbing attack was prevented at a Border Police guard post near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. A Palestinian approaching the post aroused the suspicions of the soldiers, who ordered him to halt. When he did not, they overcame and restrained him. A search revealed a knife he intended to use in a stabbing attack. He was Alaa' Aataf al-Awauda, 16, from Deir Samet, west of Hebron (Facebook page of Ghaza al-A'an, November 20, 2015).
•  On November 18, 2015, at the roadblock near the Cave of the Patriarchs, a 16 year-old Palestinian from Hebron was detained when a knife was found hidden in his shirt. He confessed he had gone to the roadblock intending to die. He was detained by Border Policemen and taken for questioning.
•  In the meantime, rioting, the throwing of stones, rocks, Molotov cocktails and improvised bombs continues throughout Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. Prominent this past week were several shooting attacks targeting Israeli security forces:

• On November 23, 2015, during a riot held near the border security fence between Palestinians from the village of Qatanna and Border Policemen, the Palestinians shot at the soldiers. The Border Policemen returned fire. There were no casualties (Facebook page of Red Alert, November 23, 2015).
• On November 23, 2015, Palestinians shot at he Qalandia guard post (near Jerusalem). The IDF force stationed at the post returned fire (Facebook page of Red Alert, November 23, 2015).
• On November 19, 2015, near the Al-Aroub refugee camp, Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at a bus on the road between Gush Etzion and Hebron. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (Facebook page of Red Alert, November 19, 2015).
• On November 17, 2015, Palestinians shot at IDF forces on a routine security mission near Turmus Aya (in the region of Ramallah). The force returned fire. A Palestinian was killed and two suspects were detained. The gun used to fire at the soldiers was taken. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (IDF Spokesman, November 17, 2015).

•  In addition, on November 17, 2015, during an Israeli security force activity in the village of Surif (northwest of Hebron), the sum of 65,000 shekels (about $17,000) was found, intended to finance Hamas terrorist activities. The money was confiscated (IDF Spokesman, November 17, 2015).
•  Arab al-Fuqhaa', spokeswoman for the Palestinian Red Crescent, reported that between the beginning of the "events" and November 18, 2015, 84 Palestinians had been killed in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. She claimed the UN had declared Israel used unreasonable force against the Palestinian people (Voice of Palestine Radio, November 18, 2015).

Israel's Response to the Terrorist Campaign

•  At the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "We will continue to fight terrorism…I instructed the security agencies to coordinate their efforts in the Hebron district, from which most or all of the attacks are originating. We are carrying out…arrests and roadblocks there and are boosting our forces. We did this in Jerusalem from which most of the attacks had originated…We are facing terrorism by individuals – this is not terrorism by organizations, this is terrorism by individuals, occasionally with kitchen knives, who are incited mainly by social media. It is very difficult to hermetically prevent the arrival of such knife-wielding, or other, terrorists to this or that place. Therefore…in addition to the actions by the security forces, citizens must be on maximum alert" (Website of the Israeli prime minister's office, November 22, 2015).
•  On November 21, 2015, IDF forces raided the offices of the Al-Khalil radio station in Hebron. They confiscated equipment and issued an order closing the station for six months. According to the IDF, the station was shut down because it broadcast incitement from Hebron, where most of the terrorist operatives had come from during the current wave of terrorist attacks. Closing the radio station in Hebron was widely condemned:

• The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) issued a statement condemning the closing of Al-Khalil radio, claiming it was "systematic terrorism" and a "desperate attempt" by Israel to put down the intifada. The PIJ demanded Palestinian media institutions be protected from Israel aggression (Paltoday, November 21, 2015).
• Ali Abu Dweik, secretary general of the Palestinian national consensus government, claimed that it was a continuation of "the crimes of the occupation government which had no regard for law or international agreements." He called on the international community and all those dealing with freedom of the press and the media to take responsibility and make their voices heard to restrain Israeli terrorism (Wafa News Agency, November 21, 2015).

• Fatah spokesman Fayez Abu I'tah condemned the closing of the radio station, claiming it violated intifada law and that the [so-called Israeli] occupation was the main cause of the violence (Wafa News Agency, November 21, 2015).

Rocket Fire Attacking Israel

• On the morning of November 23, 2015, a rocket hit was identified in Israel territory in an open area in the western Negev. There were no casualties and no damage was reported. A network calling itself "Descendants of the Companions of the Prophet" (ahfad al-sahaba), affiliated with the Salafists in the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire (Twitter account of the network, November 23, 2015).
•  In response to the rocket fire, Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked a Hamas military facility in the central Gaza Strip (IDF Spokesman, November 24, 2015). The Palestinian media reported an attack on a post in the region of Al-Maghazi and the Nuseirat refugee camp. It was also reported that there were no casualties (Dunia al-Watan, al-Akhbariya, November 23, 2015).
•  On November 17, 2015, a rocket hit was identified in Israeli territory in the western Negev. The "Descendants of the Companions of the Prophet" claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.^[2] In response IAF aircraft attack two terrorist targets in the northern and central Gaza Strip (IDF Spokesman, November 18, 2015).
•  The Palestinian media reported attacks on the following targets: a site belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees in Al-Bureij refugee camp, a site belonging to the 13^th battalion of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Al-Maghazi refugee camp, and a headquarters and training site belonging to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Facebook page of PALDF, November 17, 2015).
•  On November 20, 2015, two rockets were fired at Israeli territory. Both fell inside the Gaza Strip (Facebook page of Red Alert, November 20, 2015).

The Crossings – Recent Developments

The Rafah Crossing

• Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, claimed an agreement had been reached with Egypt for reopening the Rafah crossing in the upcoming days (PalInfo, November 19, 2015). In reality, the issue of opening the Rafah crossing is still being disputed between Hamas and Fatah. Senior Hamas sources rejected any arrangement in which the PA would manage the crossing.
•  Some of the statements made were the following:

• Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, warned against suggestions from the Fatah leadership. He claimed Hamas sought the unlimited opening of the crossing. He added that certain individuals were working to promote measures independently, contrary to the internal reconciliation agreement. He claimed Hamas had not been updated regarding the agreement. He added that Hamas had previously made flexible suggestions for opening the crossing, and the current problem was to collate all the positive suggestions (Sawa, November 17, 2015).
• Ziyad al-Zaza, a member of Hamas' political bureau, denied contacts with the PLO and the Palestinian national consensus government regarding the Rafah crossing. He claimed that everything achieved concerning arrangements for the Rafah crossing was baseless. He claimed the PA's fundamental objective was to raise difficulties, reinforce the internal Palestinian schism and appease Israel (Alresala.net, November 18, 2015).
• Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas figure, claimed Hamas was prepared to discuss a solution for the Rafah crossing crisis at an internal Palestinian forum. He claimed Hamas would not treat Egypt's security lightly (Dunia al-Watan, November 21, 2015). On another occasion he claimed Hamas was prepared to discuss the issue of the Rafah crossing with any relevant agency that was respectable and reliable, and not those who "plundered and sold the homeland" (Al-Ghad, November 21, 2015).

Hamas-Hezbollah-Iran Relations

•  "Hamas sources" reported that telephone conversations were recently held by Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas' political bureau, and Ismail Haniya, with Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah. Mashaal and Haniya expressed condolences for the ISIS attack in Beirut. In addition, a Hamas delegation headed by Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, paid a visit to Naim Qassem, deputy secretary general of Hezbollah, and expressed condolences for the attack. According to "senior Hamas sources," senior Hezbollah and Iranian figures recently held a secret meeting in Beirut with Musa Abu Marzouq, they discussed improving relations with Iran. The sources also reported that in recent months Iran had renewed its support of Hamas' military-terrorist wing and transferred weapons to it through the Sinai Peninsula (Quds News, November 16, 2015).

Two Palestinians from the Gaza Strip Killed Fighting with ISIS in Syria

•  Palestinian sources reported the deaths of two Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who had joined the ranks of ISIS in Syria. They were killed on November 17, 2015, in an aerial attack on the city of Al-Raqqah. The Gazans were (Knaan network, Khabar Press, Panet website, November 17 and 18, 2015):
•  Ismail Harzallah, 24, from the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, before he went to Syria six months ago he was an operative in Hamas military-terrorist wing.

• Ali Faez al-Aswad, 23, from the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. He left the Gaza Strip six months ago and joined the ranks of ISIS in Syria. Fatah in eastern Gaza City issued a formal death notice for him. Fatah's Facebook page in eastern Gaza City claimed he was a journalist named Ali Faez al-Aswad, aka Abu Ali (Facebook page of Fatah in eastern Gaza City, November 18, 2015).

The PA in the International Arena

•  Riyadh Mansour, Palestinian representative in the UN, reported that on November 17, 2015, the Fourth UN Conference passed eight important resolutions for the benefit of the Palestinians. Of them, four had to do with UNRWA services and four dealt with human rights according to the Fourth Geneva Convention. He claimed the resolutions were important and would help the Palestinians in future complaints lodged with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against the "crimes Israel carried out" in the Palestinian territories (Voice of Palestine Radio, November 18, 2015).

Senior Fatah Figure Detained in Turkey

•  On November 20, 2015, the Turkish security forces at the Istanbul airport detained Tawfiq al-Tirawi, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, for five hours. They claimed he was a "security risk" (Ma'an News Agency, November 20, 2015). The Palestinians claimed al-Tirawi had gone to Turkey to participate in a memorial service for Yasser Arafat.
•  A Fatah spokesman condemned the Turks' preventing al-Tirawi from entering Turkey and detaining him for five hours at the airport. He described Turkey's actions as "surprising and shameful," in view of the relations between Turkey and the Palestinians. He said that there was no reasonable explanation for such an act at a time when Turkey allowed "other Palestinian elements" [i.e., Hamas] to enter the country freely (Felesteen.ps, November 20, 2015). Faed Mustafa, PA ambassador to Turkey, claimed he had made efforts to have al-Tirawi released, and that his detention was basically a mistake and not deliberate (Ma'an News Agency, November 22, 2015).

Condemnation of Israeli Decision to Construct Houses in East Jerusalem

•  The PA's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli government authorization for the construction of 454 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of east Jerusalem. The foreign ministry claimed the decision had been made after the meeting between [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu and [American President] Obama. According to the ministry, the authorization was "illegal," a "war crime" and "organized terrorism." The ministry further claimed it was part of Israel's aggression against the Palestinian people and part of its plan to Judaize Jerusalem and the rest of the territories in Judea and Samaria and to divide Al-Aqsa mosque. The ministry added that the Israeli decision contradicted Netanyahu's statements about the willingness of his government to implement the two-state solution (Dunia al-Watan, November 17, 2015).

Palestinian Media Encourages the Current Wave of Terrorism

• The Palestinian media continue to incite Palestinians to carry out terrorist attacks, riots, stone throwing, etc. For example:

The Facebook page of a prominent Palestinian news agency in Judea and Samaria encourages continuing the riots and attacks against Israel. The Arabic reads, "The intifada continues" (Facebook page of QudsN, November 18, 2015).

Facebook page of the Hamas' Islamic Bloc faction at Hebron University. The Arabic reads, "Resist, oh son of the [West] Bank" (Facebook page of the Hamas' Islamic Bloc faction at Hebron University, November 17, 2015).