Israel seals West Bank village in response to Jerusalem terrorist attack

The decision to impose a closure was made during an emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: FEBRUARY 3, 2016 20:33
IDF soldiers stand guard during a demonstration by Palestinians against the closure of the main road in Jabaa area south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem (photo credit: REUTERS)
IDF soldiers stand guard during a demonstration by Palestinians against the closure of the main road in Jabaa area south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli authorities ordered a closure on the Palestinian village of Kabatiya, just south of the West Bank city of Jenin, shortly after three of its residents carried out a terrorist attack in Jerusalem, claiming the life of a Border Policewoman and wounding another seriously.
The three Palestinians were shot dead immediately after the attack.
The decision to impose a closure was made during an emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The premier huddled with senior cabinet members and defense officials, including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, and a representative for the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), for consultations.
Police said that three terrorists, armed with three automatic weapons, knives and two explosive devices arrived at the Damascus Gate outside of Jerusalem's Old City. The terrorists aroused the suspicion of a Border Police unit in the area.
A Border Police officer asked the suspects for their identification cards. One of the terrorists provided his ID card to the officers while a second terrorist pulled out a rifle and began firing shots. Police said later that the Border Policewoman prevented a much bigger attack by identifying the suspects and asking them for identification.
Two female Border Police officers were injured by gunfire. The Border Police unit quickly responded, firing at and killing all three terrorists.
One of the wounded officers, Corporal Hadar Cohen, died of her wounds. She was 19 years old.
Cohen saved the life of her fellow Border Police officer in the midst of the attack. Screen captures of security camera footage that emerged after the attack show Hadar shooting and killing one of the terrorists as he was about to kill the other Border Police officer.