Military jeep (archive)
Military jeep (archive)Israel news photo: Hillel Maeir

A military vehicle was that was on patrol south of Bethlehem hit a roadside bomb near Khirbet Eliya on Wednesday evening.

The bomb exploded, causing damage to the vehicle. The IDF spokesman reported there were no physical injuries. IDF forces began searching the area to locate the terrorists who planted the bomb.

The attack is the latest in a series of terror attacks in Judea and Samaria in recent days.

On Tuesday, a vehicle that was driving northward on Route 60 near Maavar Mikhmas was blocked by an Arab-owned commercial vehicle. At the same time, a young Arab armed with a club emerged from the nearby village, jumped over the security barrier and headed toward the vehicle. He started banging hard on the front windshield, tried to climb atop the car and began breaking the rear window.

The driver managed to bypass the vehicle that was blocking the road, crossed the intersection and drove off. The attacker jumped back over the security barrier and disappeared. The Arab commercial vehicle, they realized, had blocked their way as part of a coordinated plan with the attacker.

On Monday, Arabs threw a rock from a passing vehicle at an Egged bus travelling from Beit El to Jerusalem. No one was hurt but the bus was damaged.

On Sunday, a Border Police force arrested an Arab terrorist at a roadblock near the Cave of Machpela in Hevron. He was carrying a knife and a homemade explosive cap. He admitted that he was planning to stab Jews.

The National Union party condemned Wednesday evening’s attack on the military vehicle and suggested that several of the 477 terrorists released by Israel in exchange for Gilad Shalit last week may have been behind the latest attack wave.

“The ink has not yet dried on the first surrender agreement which pardons terrorists for Shalit’s release, and the evening before the second surrender agreement, it has again been proven that the murderers who raised their heads in the last two weeks do not waste a moment trying to collect Jewish blood,” the party said in a statement.

“We would not be surprises if the fingerprints of some of those who have already been released is on the recent terrorist activities,” the party added. “The bomb in Bethlehem proves that Netanyahu, in his irresponsible actions, repeatedly tramples the security of Israeli citizens.”