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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Army reportedly nabs a suspect in deadly West Bank stabbing attack
2019-08-10
[IsraelTimes] Soldiers also said to confiscate car of Beit Fajjar resident over suspicions it was used in Dvir Sorek’s murder; IDF says hunt for Lions of Islam ongoing.

Israeli security forces reportedly arrested a suspect on Friday during searches for the killers of Dvir Sorek in a stabbing attack in the West Bank, according to Paleostinian reports.

Soldiers also reportedly confiscated the car of a suspect, a resident of the Paleostinian village of Beit Fajjar, over suspicions it was used in Wednesday’s attack.

Paleostinian media identified the suspect as Ammar Thawabteh, 29. It was not immediately clear what his role was in the terror attack.

The Ynet news site said that Israeli security forces apparently knew the identity of the killer or killers.

There was no confirmation of the arrest from the army, which said in a statement the manhunt for the Lions of Islam was ongoing.

It also released a video of soldiers operating in the West Bank that showed a car being towed away on a military vehicle.

Beit Fajjar is near the settlement of Migdal Oz, outside of which the body of yeshiva student Sorek was found early Thursday.

Sorek, 18, was studying at a seminary in Migdal Oz as part of a program combining Torah study and military service. He was last seen leaving the settlement Wednesday to buy books for his teachers in Jerusalem.

Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security forces were hot on the heels of Sorek’s murderers.

"According to a briefing I received a short while ago, we are on our way. It won’t take very long," said Netanyahu, who also serves as defense minister.

In an effort to locate the Lions of Islam who carried out the Wednesday night attack, the Shin Bet security service, assisted by the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police, launched a massive manhunt in the surrounding area on Thursday morning and the military deployed additional troops throughout the West Bank.

The military fears the Lions of Islam may attempt to carry out additional attacks or serve as inspiration for other would-be attackers. These concerns were especially heightened in light of the upcoming Moslem holiday of Eid al-Adha and the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av on Sunday.

Initially, the search effort focused on the Paleostinian village of Beit Fajjar, near Bethlehem, which is adjacent to Migdal Oz. Paleostinian media reported that soldiers confiscated surveillance camera footage from businesses in the town in an apparent effort to track the escape route of the assailants.

On Thursday night and early Friday morning, security forces expanded their operations to the Paleostinian town of Halhul, north of Hebron, according to Paleostinian media.

Security forces were also reportedly concerned the terror cell behind the deadly stabbing attack may have split up, making the search effort more difficult. The group is believed to be getting assistance in evading capture.

On Thursday evening, Israeli security forces dismissed their initial suspicion that the deadly stabbing attack was a failed kidnapping attempt, instead deeming it a premeditated murder.
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