The level of violence in Judea and Samaria is continuing to rise following several deadly attacks on Jews over the past few days. A number of Jews rioted in the area of Shavei Shomron on Monday, and threw stones at IDF forces who arrived to disperse them. Shavei Shomron is not far from Huwara, where Jews rioted on Sunday night.
IDF forces also reported that a vehicle driven by Jewish residents of Samaria accelerated toward an IDF officer and attempted to knock him down. Soldiers who saw a clear and present danger to life fired at the vehicle's tires but the vehicle managed to escape. The IDF and Israel Police are investigating the incident.
"Earlier this evening, a number of Israeli citizens threw stones at IDF forces in the area of [Shavei Shomron]," an IDF spokesperson stated on Monday night. "One Israeli citizen attempted to run over an IDF officer who was at the scene. IDF forces responded by shooting at the vehicle's wheels and the driver fled.
"The IDF condemns violence in any form and most certainly when it is directed against soldiers and security forces," the spokesperson continued. "The IDF supports the battalion commander and its fighters who exert themselves day and night in order to protect Israeli citizens, residents of Judea and Samaria. The IDF will continue to take action to preserve security, law, and order in Judea and Samaria, and to work in cooperation with law enforcement officers in order to ensure that criminals face justice for their crimes."
Commenting on the incident, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "An attack on IDF soldiers by Jewish rioters is both grave and unacceptable. Zero tolerance will be displayed to those who flout the law. The IDF is the lifeblood of the State of Israel and her citizens, and its officers and soldiers work around the clock to protect the country's residents."
According to security officials, 35 homes sustained damage in Sunday night's disturbances in Huwara, and 15 vehicles and two scrap-yards containing a further 250 vehicles were torched. A number of vehicles were also torched in the village of Burin, and a number of buildings were damaged, including a school, when Jewish rioters threw stones at windows. Damage to a water installation was reported in another nearby Palestinian-Arab village.
Route 60, the main traffic artery through Judea and Samaria, passes through the village of Huwara, and is used daily by thousands of Jewish residents of Itamar, Elon Moreh, Har Bracha, and Yitzhar. As such, Huwara has often been a flashpoint of violent confrontation between Jews and Arabs.