The Shomron community of Yitzhar is not a stranger to Arab terrorism, often targeted by lone terrorists seeking to target Jews.

In one recent case, an Arab male armed with a knife was detected, leading to the activation of the first response team. One member of the team shot and seriously wounded the would-be terrorist, who according to IDF reports was then tied up and beaten by community teens.

The IDF investigators feel that if troops did not arrive when they did, a lynch might have taken place.

In a worrisome move, Division Commander Brigadier-General Chaggai Mordechai has ordered confiscating the weapons of the first response team, leaving them without self-defense capabilities as his officers investigate the incident.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)