Officials attribute the quick response of Maale Adumim police to the relatively good outcome of the Monday afternoon stabbing attack of a soldier at Almog Junction. The soldier, who was dressed in civilian clothing, is listed in light-to-moderate condition in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.

The soldier entered a bathroom in the Almog Jct. gas station and placed his Tabor automatic weapon [with a magazine inside] at his side. Suddenly, the lone terrorist, who authorities say must have been watching the soldier, came in and lunged at him with the knife, stabbing him in his back.

The two got into a struggle and the soldier managed to get out of the bathroom, but without his weapon. The terrorist came after him and must have realized the automatic weapon was inside the bathroom, prompting him to turn around and head for it.

In the meantime, Israel Police detectives Moti Tal and Ophir Rabibo of the Maale Adumim district were on routine assignment in the area. They quickly realized something ‘was going down’, prompting them to react. The terrorist had now gotten to the Tabor, and tried chambering a bullet but the weapon jammed. Police used that fraction of a moment to jump him and take control of the situation.

Later in the day, IDF forces operating in Ramallah made an additional arrest in connection to the attack.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)