Ariel terrorist killed by IDF forces after fire exchange

The terrorist, identified as Omar Abu Lila, stole a vehicle and drove to the nearby Gitai Avishar junction on Sunday, where he started shooting.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
The IDF raid in the village of Yatta, home of terrorist who fatally stabbed Ari Fuld on September 16, 2018. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
The IDF raid in the village of Yatta, home of terrorist who fatally stabbed Ari Fuld on September 16, 2018.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
The IDF has killed the Palestinian terrorist who carried out the shooting spree near the West Bank city of Ariel on Sunday, killing two Israelis and severely injuring one.
Late Tuesday night, the IDF closed in on Omar Abu Lila, 19, in the Palestinian village of Abwain, near Ramallah. 
Abu Lila shot at IDF soldiers during his attempted arrest. He was killed in an exchange of fire. No soldiers were reported to be injured during the incident.
The security operation was carried out by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the IDF and the Yamam special police unit. Special technology was used to locate and identify him.
The shootout in Abwain comes after an intense two-day manhunt for the Palestinian terrorist. On Sunday, he shot at Israelis at both the Ariel junction and the Gitai Avishar junction and fled the scene.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the security forces for their efforts in locating and finding the terrorist: "Israel's long arm can reach anyone who tries to harm its citizens."  
Tamar Ettinger, whose husband, Ahiad, was killed in Sunday's attack, also thanked the security forces for their swift work and called for the terrorists family to be exiled.

Abu Lila had stolen a vehicle and drove to the nearby Gitai Avishar junction on Sunday, where he started shooting.
One civilian, Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, 47, and the father of 12, was severely injured when trying to stop Abu Lila. He succumbed to his wounds on Monday.

Stay updated with the latest news!

Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter

Subscribe Now
Just before Ettinger was shot, he was able to recognize that he was in the middle of an attack, drew his gun and shot at the terrorist a number of times, his son-in-law Ze'ev Goldstein said.
Gal Keidan, 19, a soldier guarding the Ariel junction, was killed at the scene and buried in his hometown of Beersheba on Monday morning.
Another soldier, identified as Alexander Dvorsky, a young immigrant from Moldova, was injured but is reported to have stabilized.
This is a developing story.
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.