Bethehem evacuated to Jerusalem´s Shaare Zedek Medical Center with severe injuries; entrance to Ma´ale Adumim closed

A security guard shot Wednesday afternoon a Palestinian who was apparently trying to steal his weapon. The incident took place on Derech Har Habayit (Temple Mount Road) in Ma´ale Adumim.

Maged David Adom paramedics evacuated the Palestinian, who was severely wounded, to Jerusalem´s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Police closed the entrance to Ma´ale Adumim.

According to an initial investigation, the Palestinian, who is around 30 years old, drove to Ma´aleh Adumim in a Mitsubishi owned by an east Jerusalem resident, and at some point stepped out of the vehicle, ran towards the guard and tried to grab his weapon.

Investigators added that prior to the confrontation with the security guard, the Palestinian, a resident of Bethlehem, rammed his car into a police squad car about 100 meters from the security guard´s booth.

The police officer inside the squad car began chasing the Palestinian, who abandoned the vehicle was running towards the city´s entrance. The Palestinian climbed over a fence, headed to the security guard´s booth, and was shot while trying to steal the guard´s weapon.

Superintendent Uri Yoran, commander of the Ma´ale Adumim police station, said the guard shot the Palestinian in the stomach. Prior to the shooting, Yoran said, the Palestinian tried to run over a police officer.

"The officer in the squad car tried to escape to the right side of the road, but the Palestinian continued to pursue him and rammed his vehicle into the squad car. The cop stooped at the side of the road and stepped out of the car, but the driver of the Mitsubishi turned around and tried to run him over. At this point the policeman came to his senses and chased after the Palestinian as soon as he saw that he was trying to flee the city," the commander said.

About six months ago a security guard was stabbed at the entrance to Ma´ale Adumim by a Palestinian. The guard was lightly injured in the incident.

Two months later, police arrested 21-year-old Ala Hanaishe of Qabatiya in the West Bank on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Hanaishe admitted to stabbing the guard and said his motive was nationalistic. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 06/27/12)