Car windshield smashed in rock attack (file)
Car windshield smashed in rock attack (file)Gershon Elinson/Flash 90

A fatal car crash which occurred Tuesday on Highway 55 near the Shomron community of Ginot Shomron, forced the closure of the road for several hours.

Instead, drivers were instructed to take a detour and drive through the Arab village Azzun - where they were greeted by rock throwers.

Despite the military presence along the road, Arabs were able to throw rocks at an Israeli bus and another Israeli vehicle that passed by. Miraculously, there were no injuries.

The driver of the private vehicle that was attacked, Miriam, said that she drove through Azzun after being ordered to do so by the security forces.

"Following the accident and the closure of the highway, we were asked to go through the village. Although much of the route was secured by soldiers, a group of young Palestinians stood at the side of the road, on the part in which no soldiers were stationed,” she recalled.

"I was driving slowly because of heavy traffic, with Palestinian vehicles in front of me and behind me. Suddenly the whole car shook and I felt the impact of the rocks on the car. Miraculously the rocks did not hit me. I kept driving until I noticed Israeli troops and reported the incident. It was then that I saw my baby daughter’s seat full of glass. I hate to think what would have happened had I not been alone in the car at that moment,” added Miriam.

Arutz Sheva has reported on many occasions about rock attacks, which have become frequent occurrences in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria in recent years.

Such rock attacks can be lethal, as was the case in an attack in September of 2011 which targeted Asher Palmer and his infant son Yonatan. The two were killed when an Arab terrorist hurled large rocks at their car.

Responding to Tuesday’s incident, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Gershon Mesika, said, “A rock throwing attack is attempted murder for all intents and purposes and must be treated as such. We remember the difficult stories of Asher Palmer and his infant son who were killed by rocks while travelling on the road in Kiryat Arba, and Adelle Biton who was seriously injured and is still recovering today.”

“We have to prosecute terrorists and put an end to the rock throwing terrorism,” he added.