Jerusalem – The Israeli military on Wednesday demolished the home of a Palestinian who carried out a lethal stabbing attack in a West Bank Jewish settlement in January.
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In the January attack, Hussein Mohammed Abu Ghosh and another Palestinian armed with knives and improvised explosive devices stabbed two women near a supermarket in the settlement of Beit Horon and were killed by an Israeli security guard, the military said. One woman, Shlomit Krigman, 23, later died of her wounds.
The home demolition took place in the Qalandia refugee camp, which straddles the area between the West Bank and Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries. Israel says demolitions are meant to deter attacks, but critics say the tactic is collective punishment.
Palestinians threw rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces during the demolition, the military said. Forces tried to disperse the crowd, the military said, then fired live bullets at what it called the “main instigators.” Two soldiers were lightly injured, and Ramallah Hospital said eight Palestinians were injured.
There has been a seven-month wave of Palestinian attacks — mostly stabbings, shootings and vehicular attacks — against Israeli civilians and security forces.
In that time, 28 Israelis and two Americans were killed. At least 189 Palestinians have also been killed. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were attackers, with the rest killed in clashes with security forces.
Israel says the violence is fueled by a campaign of Palestinian incitement compounded on social media sites that glorify and encourage attacks. Palestinians say the violence is due to a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts.
Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek the territory for an independent state.
They destroy an empty house a year later, what does it help? Clearly this soft approach it’s not helping to deter the terrorists.
It took them 3 months? There should be only a bit of time after an attack to identify all those responsible. Then demolish the homes of all, without notification to evacuate. These savage pests need to be exterminated.
Get ready for the world wide condemnation at this “atrocious disproportionate response to palestinians’ justified frustration!”