Israeli settler dies from injuries in West Bank shooting attack
Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:
A 27-year-old Israeli settler who was fatally injured in a Palestinian shooting attack, succumbed to his wounds and died in hospital on Tuesday, Israeli officials said.
Malachi Moshe Rosenfeld was wounded on Monday night as a Palestinian shooter opened fire at a group of Israelis who were sitting in a car, a military spokesperson said. Israeli media reported that the Israelis were on their way home after a basketball game.
The incident took place off of Highway 60, the main north-to-south road running through the West Bank, some 15 minutes drive from Rosenfeld's home. Three additional Israelis sustained moderate-to-serious injuries.
On Tuesday afternoon, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon blamed Hamas' international headquarters in Istanbul for executing the attack and Iran for funding it. He added that this branch of Hamas moved to Turkey after being expelled from Syria.
Ya'alon also accused Palestinian media for inciting attacks against Israelis. "People are sitting at home during the holiday (Ramadan), watching TV, and go out to do things," said Ya'alon.
The shooting, the sixth Palestinian attack since the beginning of the Ramadan two weeks ago, sparked furious responses among settlers.
The pro-settler radio station, Arutz 7, reported that a group of settlers are calling to erect an illegal post at the site of the shootings.
Other groups are planning to rally tonight at different sites across the West Bank to protest "easing of restrictions" on Palestinians' movement and the "security lawlessness" which, they said, enables such attacks.
Earlier on Monday, a Palestinian woman stabbed and seriously wounded a female Israeli soldier at the Rachel checkpoint near the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
These incidents came three days after a Palestinian man was shot dead after he opened fire at Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint in the Jordan Valley.
Violent incidents between Israelis and Palestinians have been on the rise since the U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed last April.
There have been dozens of militant attacks by Palestinians against Israelis, mainly in Jerusalem, claiming Israeli victims, along Palestinian casualties from the frequent clashes between the Palestinians and the Israeli security forces. Endit