Following the recent attack of an IDF soldier by a PA Arab in the Jordan Valley, soldiers have been ordered to keep their magazines inserted in their weapons at all times, the IDF says.
“When the soldier was attacked by the terrorist," Lt. Col. Shalom Eizner, Deputy Commander of the Jordan Valley Territorial Brigade, said. "His magazine fell to the ground. As such, he was unable to respond by opening fire."
Soldiers serving in the region have also been instructed to avoid standing alone in places where they hope to get rides to or from the base, and to be aware of any suspicious people coming toward them.
Brigade commanders also decided to invest more time in teaching soldiers 'Krav Maga' [The IDF's hand-to-hand combat system -ed.]. “Ultimately, there was physical contact between terrorist and soldier,” Eizner said. “If the soldier had been more practiced in 'Krav Maga', we assume he could have overcome the terrorist.”
The attack took place when the soldier was waiting at a bus stop outside of the Tomer community on Route 90, where he was attacked by a PA Arab. While the soldier waited for the vehicle that would take him to base, his attacker came up behind him and began striking soldier with a rock. The soldier was moderately injured in the head.
An Israel Police unit driving by at the time saw what was happening. The officer confronted the terrorist and, after engaging him both physically and firing warning shots, ultimately shot the attacker in the leg. The IDF ordered soldiers in the area not to stand alone at hitchhiking stations following a separate incident in January.
A preliminary investigation found that the man was not a resident of the Jordan Valley and that he had spent the evening in the village of Al Fasil after arriving from the Shechem area. “This is an isolated incident and we are not aware of any connection to an organization at this point," Eizner said. "It’s impossible to foresee this type of incident."
“The events in Gaza and Judea and Samaria region affect the country. There is tension in the air, and it seems that the sole attacker gains motivation to attack.”