A view of the car from the robot used to defuse the bomb inside

Samaria Attack Foiled: Security Neutralizes Car Bomb

Details
The Judean Staff
National

In a heroic display of vigilance and quick response, security personnel in the Jewish communities of Neve Tzuf-Ateret in the Binyamin region narrowly prevented a devastating terrorist attack on Monday morning. Palestinian Authority terrorists, seeking to inflict mass casualties, abandoned a car bomb at the entrance to the community of Ateret, about a five minute drive from the neighboring community of Neve Tzuf (Halamish). This was no ordinary explosive device; it was a meticulously prepared weapon of destruction, containing two large gas balloons rigged to a detonator, a chilling reminder of the terrorists' intent to cause maximum harm. The attack comes just one week after Hamas' political leader, Khaled Meshaal called on Palestinians to return to mass casualty suicide bombings and days after a successful bombing in the heart of Gush Etzion.

Thanks to the alertness and swift action of the security team, the bomb was discovered before it could unleash its deadly potential. Sappers were called in, and the explosive device was neutralized just in time, preventing what could have been a scene of unimaginable tragedy. Miraculously, no Israelis were harmed in the incident, and the community was spared from what would have certainly been a massive loss of life.

Israeli Police and IDF bomb squad units quickly took control of the situation, meticulously handling the defused vehicle to ensure the area was secure. The head of the Binyamin Regional Council and the Judea and Samaria Israel Council didn't mince words when describing the magnitude of this threat: "A great miracle happened this morning in Binyamin. Terrorism in Judea and Samaria requires military action just like in Gaza and Rafah. The population must be mobilized, and the neighborhoods and terrorist infrastructure must be razed to the ground." This statement underscores the growing call for decisive military responses to terrorist threats in the region.

A Surge in Coordinated Car Bomb Attacks

This near-disaster in Neve Tzuf-Ateret was part of a broader wave of terrorist activities that have shaken the region in recent days. Last Friday night, two separate car bomb attacks rocked Gush Etzion, located on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem. At approximately 11:15 PM, a car bomb exploded at the Tzomet Hagush gas station, resulting in significant damage and widespread chaos. Terrifying CCTV footage captured the exact moment when the vehicle burst into flames and exploded. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, acting with precision and bravery, shot and killed the terrorists responsible for planting the bomb. One of the terrorists was killed while attempting to flee the scene, and in total, at least two were neutralized. The Machat Etzion (IDF regional commander) suffered a minor injury from friendly fire, and several Israelis were lightly wounded, underscoring the dangerous and chaotic nature of these attacks.

On the same evening, another incident unfolded in the nearby community of Karmei Tzur. In a brazen attack, a terrorist drove into the community, opening fire on the guard at the entrance. A rapid response by the town’s security team led to a dramatic chase, during which one of the team members used his vehicle to ram the terrorist’s car, stopping it in its tracks. As the terrorist exited his vehicle, security forces opened fire, causing the bomb inside the car to explode. The terrorist was killed in the resulting blast, marking the end of yet another potentially catastrophic attack.

Unconfirmed Reports and Growing Concerns

There have been unconfirmed reports of a third car bomb near Maaleh Chever (Bani Naim), although these reports have not yet been verified. Security officials are working under the assumption that all these car bombs originated from the same terror lab in Hebron, indicating a highly coordinated series of attacks aimed at maximizing casualties among Israeli civilians. According to a report in Haaretz, the bombs by Gush Etzion were packed with nails and screws, a hallmark of terror devices designed to inflict severe injuries over a wider area from the blast zone.

This surge in terrorist activity marks a troubling escalation in violence across Gush Etzion and other areas of Judea and Samaria. Earlier in the week, a group of attackers threw stones at vehicles traveling from Efrat to Eitam Hill farm, leading to a confrontation between local teenagers and the assailants. The arrival of IDF soldiers escalated the situation, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. One attacker, not from the local village, was killed, and three others were injured.

Additionally, an improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown at a bus near Maale Amos earlier in the week, further illustrating the escalating threat of terrorism in the area.

A Call to Action

The Binyamin Regional Council, which governs 47 Israeli communities in Samaria, finds itself at the forefront of these tensions. Extending from the Jordan Valley in the east to the Samarian foothills in the west, and from the Shiloh River in the north to the Jerusalem Mountains in the south, this region has become a focal point of both thriving Jewish communities and escalating terrorist threats. Named after the ancient Israelite tribe of Benjamin, the Binyamin region is not just a geographical area but a symbolic heartland of Jewish heritage and resilience.

In light of these recent attacks, there is a growing call within Israel for stronger military actions to counter these threats and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. The security and well-being of the residents in these communities depend on the swift and decisive actions of both local and national authorities. The recent foiling of the Neve Tzuf-Ateret car bomb attack serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect lives and preserve peace in this volatile region.

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