JERUSALEM: A car-ramming targeting Israeli troops in Jerusalem wounded 14people early Thursday in an attack that Palestinian group Hamas hailed as aresponse to Washington’s controversial Middle East peace plan.
A manhunt was underway for the driver who fled the scene outside a popularJerusalem entertainment spot. The attack occurred shortly before 2:00 am(2400 GMT) outside the First Station, an historic Ottoman-era railwayterminus that has been turned into a cultural and entertainment centre withbars and restaurants.
The attacker struck in the street outside where the soldiers had beenmarching, the army said. One of then soldiers was “severely injured” andhas been evacuated to hospital. Public radio said they were new recruits ontheir way to an induction ceremony at Jerusalem´s Western Wall, the holiestsite where Jews can pray.
“During the incident, a terrorist sped his car towards (Israeli) soldiers,”the army said. Israeli troops “are currently pursuing the terrorist whoescaped the scene.” Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said “the incident isbeing investigated as a terror attack.” There have been car-rammingstargeting Israeli troops in the past, in the occupied West Bank as well asJerusalem.
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The Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, hailed the car-ramming as a”practical response” to US President Donald Trump’s controversial MiddleEast peace plan. In a statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said theattack was part of the “resistance operation” but stopped short of claimingresponsibility.
It came amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, sincethe release last month of US President Donald Trump’s long-awaited peaceproposals. The Palestinians have angrily rejected the plan, whichunilaterally gives Israel most of what it has sought in previousnegotiations. -APP/AFP
