Gush Etzion junction
Gush Etzion junctionIsrael news photo: Flash 90

A female Palestinian Authority Arab terrorist tried to stab an Israeli at the Gush Etzion junction on Wednesday afternoon.

Soldiers from the IDF’s Kfir Brigade who were on hand stopped the terrorist, captured and arrested her. No one was hurt in the incident.

The attempted attack came just one day after Israel released 477 terrorist prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. 149 of the freed terrorists were sent to the Gaza Strip. 40 other terrorists were expelled from Egypt to various countries, including Turkey and Qatar. Several were returned to East Jerusalem, others to Judea and Samaria.

PA Arabs did not waste any time, and hundreds of them threw rocks at Israeli soldiers as the terrorists were being freed at the Betunia checkpoint. The IDF fired stun grenades, tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the rioters.

Most of the rioters carried Hamas and Islamic Jihad banners, not PA flags, and arrived at the checkpoint to welcome approximately 100 terrorists and security prisoners who were among those being allowed to return to their homes in Judea and Samaria.

On Tuesday night, Hamas terrorists in Gaza promised that there would be more kidnappings of IDF soldiers, given the success they realized by abducting Shalit five years ago.

The terrorists made the promises during a huge rally in Gaza, with tens of thousands calling for the destruction of Israel and for freedom for all terrorists still in Israeli prisons.

Over 250,000 people gathered in Gaza City’s central square during the rally, holding Hamas flags and shouting, “The people want a new Gilad.”

(Arutz Sheva’s North American Desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)