Soldiers, Binyamin
Soldiers, Binyaminצילום: Nati Shohat/Flash90.

Residents of the Shvut Rachel community, just outside the site overnight Monday/Tuesday where terrorists shot at four young Israelis, injuring them, have called on the government to expand Jewish communities in the region in response to the attack. 

Residents noted as well that the attack occurred near the site of the murder of Gidon Lichterman, twelve years ago.

"Anyone who thinks [these attacks] weaken our hold on the land of Israel, ignores the over 3,000 years of existence of the eternal nation," a community spokesmen said Tuesday. 

"We are shocked by the ease with which we return to daily life after each attack, and urge the Israeli government to take responsibility and to restore an appropriate Zionist response, causing the terrorists and those who send them to understand that they will lose out from such an evil act," they said.

"We urge the government to immediately approve the building plans in Shvut Rachel and surrounding communities near the scene of the attack," the added. "The Israeli government's response should be expanding the settlements and strengthening the youngest settlement in the region." 

In addition, residents addressed the deterioration in the security situation recently, which has seen a flare-up of terror attacks since the beginning of the Ramadan holiday earlier this month.  

"We demand that the defense minister and the prime minister to restore security to the Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria, and to stop the concessions as part of Ramadan, which so far only brought terror."

"We participate in prayer for the healing the wounded and raise our heads with pride on our presence in the country," they added.

Second attack in a few hours

Four people were wounded in the attack, including one seriously. Two of the victims were evacuated to the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem, among them the seriously wounded victim and one more in light-to-moderate condition.

Two other victims were evacuated to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

Magen David Adom reported that "at 22:55 there were reports of a shooting at three people near the community of Shvut Rachel. Magen David Adom teams on their way.”

The terrorist attack in Shvut Rachel is the second attack in several hours. Earlier on Monday, an IDF soldier was wounded in a stabbing attack at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem.