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Israelis killed by Palestinian at settlement entrance in West Bank
It happened on Tuesday at the entrance of the settlement of Har Adara. A 37-year-old gunman was shot by security forces and died shortly just after.
Three Israelis were shot dead on Tuesday (26) at the entrance to the Har Adara settlement in the West Bank. The gunman, a 37-year-old Palestinian, was shot by security forces and died shortly just after, according to Israeli police quoted by the BBC. The gunman approached one of Har Adar's entrances as Palestinian workers passed security checkpoints before commencing operations at the settlement 15 km west of Jerusalem. Israeli police said the attacker opened fire on members of the security forces who protected access, according to France Presse. He was ordered to stop his walk, but he drew a pistol and opened fire. The shooting killed three Israelis and left one severely wounded. The Palestinian was identified by Israeli police as an inhabitant of Beit Surik, a locality close to the Israeli colony. Har Adar is a colony that has almost 4,000 inhabitants and lies in the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by the Israeli army 50 years ago, according to France Presse. Tens of thousands of Palestinians travel daily to Israel or even the colonies to work, often attracted by higher wages, despite criticism from other Palestinians. The gunman had an Israeli work permit, according to France Presse. The crime comes on the day that Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Jerusalem to try to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, according to the BBC. Since October 2015, Israel, Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have witnessed sporadic acts of violence that have killed at least 295 Palestinians or Israeli Arabs, 50 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, one Eritrean, one Sudanese and one British, according to AFP survey.
Israel celebrates Yom Kippur with great security measures
The most important day of the Jewish calendar, the Festivity of the Great Forgiveness is traditionally the day of greatest presence in the synagogues.
Israel stopped altogether on Friday to celebrate Yom Kippur, the most important day of the Jewish calendar, while the Palestinian Territories were subjected to a siege to prevent attacks. Yom Kippur, the day of Great Forgiveness, begins on Friday afternoon and ends on Saturday with the appearance of the first stars. In this period, Jews can not work, direct or use electricity. The day is dedicated to fasting and prayer. There is no air traffic, no radio and TV broadcasts. Traditionally it is the day of greatest presence in the synagogues. The army has ordered the closure of border crossings between the Palestinian territories and Israel from midnight Thursday until Saturday at midnight. Except for cases of humanitarian urgency, the crossing points of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are closed, an army spokeswoman told AFP. Police have kept a huge security device "in the Old City of Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall, where thousands of visitors attend during the fast," said the spokesman.
