BICOM

The Israel Defence Forces have arrested three people in connection with yesterday’s shooting attack in the settlement of Har Adar, including the brother of the attacker.

The arrests were made yesterday afternoon in response to the shooting attack that killed three Israeli men and seriously wounded another.

Twenty-year-old Border Policeman Solomon Gavriyah, who returned to active service after being stabbed in a terror attack a year ago, was shot dead at the entrance to the settlement, along with two private security guards; 25-year-old Or Arish, who was working to fund his university tuition, and 24-year-old Youssef Ottman, a resident of the neighbouring Arab-Israeli community of Abu Ghosh who spoke passionately about coexistence.

Har Adar’s security coordinator Amit Steinhart is recovering from his bullet wounds in hospital.

The attacker has been identified as a 37-year-old resident of the neighbouring village of Bayt Surik, Nimer Mahmoud Ahmad Jamal. A married father of four, Jamal had been working in Har Adar as a cleaner for several years before he fired ten shots at close range with a stolen handgun in yesterday’s attack. Hundreds of Palestinians with work permits enter every day, and terrorist attacks carried out by permit holders are very rare.

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said Jamal did not have a history of involvement in terrorist activities, but did suffer from “significant personal and family problems”.

Minister for Public Security Gilad Erdan said there would be increased vigilance over the coming weeks, coinciding with the upcoming Jewish festivals. The procedure at the Har Adar checkpoint will also likely change, following a review into how the attacker was able to get so close to the victims.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Alistair Burt tweeted: “Strongly condemn attack in Har Adar (NW of Jerusalem). Thoughts and prayers are with families of the victims. No justification for violence.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas “to condemn it and not attempt to justify it”.

In the wake of the attack, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he would renew efforts to pass a law to introduce a death penalty for convicted terrorists.