Israel Matzav

Breaking: Terror attack in Northern Samaria

There's been a terror attack in Northern Samaria within the last hour. An Israeli Jew has been murdered.

An Israeli man was shot dead in an apparent terror attack in the West Bank on Thursday afternoon.

The attack took place as the man was driving along Route 57, between the northern West Bank settlements of Shavei Shomron and Einav. The assailants fled the scene.

Magen David Adom paramedics attempted to save the man, who was in a critical condition but were forced to pronounce his death.

The victim was a resident of Shavei Shomron.

IDF troops were scouring the area from the gunman.

No terror group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

In the last such attack, two Judea and Samaria Traffic Police officers were shot dead by terrorists in the Jordan Valley in March 2009.

Let's hope the government response isn't to open up some more checkpoints.

UPDATE 6:16 PM

Arutz Sheva reports that the victim was a 45-year old father of seven.

Ma'an reports that an affiliate of the 'good terrorists' from Fatah has taken responsibility (Hat Tip: Aussie Dave via Twitter).

An organization calling itself the Imad Mughniya Group and proclaiming affiliation to Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibily in an email for the shooting.

“Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Group of the Martyr Imad Mughniya claim firing on a settler car in the north of the West Bank between the settlement Shave Shomeron and Enab,” the message said.

"The resistance fighters affirmed that those who were in the car sustained injuries after being shot directly," the statement also said.

The group said its members "withdrew from the area safely." It also warned of "a series of attacks to come."

Maybe if we stop building 'settlements' they'll stop shooting.

/Pipe dream

UPDATE 7:53 PM

The victim now has a name and some details.

Rabbi Meir Chai, 40, lived in Shavei Shomron for the last 14 years, and teaches at the Talmud Torah School. His seven children range from two months-old to 18 year-old.

Magen David Adom paramedics attempted to save Chai, but were forced to pronounce his death at the scene of the shooting.

May God have mercy on the family.

Contrary to the Ma'an report above, JPost is still reporting that no terror group has taken credit for the attack.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:37 PM