Israeli security forces arrested a Palestinian terrorist for allegedly taking part in a Dec. 13 shooting at a Givat Assaf bus stop, close to Ramallah.
The Palestinian, identified as Asem Barghouti, was arrested on the morning of Jan. 8 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel’s counterterrorism police unit Yamam and the Shin Bet at the home of a suspected accomplice’s house at the Abu Shukheidim village in Ramallah. According to the Shin Bet, Israeli forces confiscated a firearm, ammunition and night-vision equipment at the house; the Shin Bet believes that Barghouti was going to use the equipment to carry out further terror attacks.
Barghouti is alleged to be behind the Dec. 13 shooting that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers, injuring two other Israelis, one of whom was also an Israeli soldier. He and his brother Salih were allegedly also behind a Dec. 9 shooting that injured seven Israelis, including a pregnant woman who was forced to give premature birth as a result of her injuries. The prematurely born baby died shortly thereafter. Salih was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Dec. 12.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “I praise the Shin Bet, IDF and Yamam for capturing the depraved terrorist who committed the Givat Assaf terror attack and was part of the Ofra attack. The long arm of Israel will reach all those who harm our citizens, and the State of Israel will bring them to justice.”
