Site of attack, Samaria
Site of attack, SamariaCourtesy of Israeli Police

Police investigators in Samaria (Shomron) have ruled out the possibility that terrorists who attacked Jewish motorists Tuesday used a gun to carry out the attack. It appears that the weapon used was a slingshot, with a metal ball as a projectile.

The car's driver, a resident of Kedumim, and another passenger, were lightly hurt from flying glass. They received medical attention on the spot and then went home.

In the initial hours after the incident, investigators were not sure whether the attackers used a gun or threw rocks. At first, police identified what they believed were bullet holes in the car but this estimate was scrapped as forensic experts began examining the vehicle. By Wednesday morning, the experts had concluded that a metal ball was used – apparently shot from a slingshot.

Slingshots have been used as deadly weapons in the Middle East at least since the times of King David.

The head of the Shomron Regional Authority, Gershon Mesika, said that “the attack is a direct result of the removal of the Hawara checkpoint, just two hundred meters from the shooting.”

Mesika added, “Weakness leads to terrorism. I demand that the Prime Minister re-erect the checkpoint tonight. Only military determination and a construction boom will deter the motivation for terrorism.”