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Palestinian Authority/Gaza, August 8, 2019

Israeli Student Stabbed to Death in West Bank by Palestinian Terrorist

Original source

The Jerusalem Post

IDF troops are canvassing the West Bank after the body of Yeshiva student Dvir Sorek, 19, was found with multiple stab wounds on Thursday morning between the Efrat junction and the settlement of Migdal Oz, where he studied.

"This is a serious terror attack," said IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis, adding that there are details of the murder still under gag order by the Shin Bet.

A report was received by the military close to midnight that a teenage boy had been missing since late evening when he sent a message that he was on his way back to his yeshiva from Jerusalem.

Troops began to search the area and found his cellphone near the community of Neve Daniel before his body was found at 3 a.m. near with multiple stab wounds.

According to Manelis, while there are still many details that are unclear, "to the best of our knowledge he was alone."

The IDF is investigating if he was kidnapped before being stabbed to death since it is believed that his body was found in a location different from where he was killed.

The military is still not sure of the direction that the murderer escaped. Large numbers of troops from the IDF, the Israel Police and the Shin Bet security service have been brought in to conduct searches throughout the Etzion area south of Jerusalem for the suspect.

Hamas, however, congratulated the killer or killers, calling the attack "a most powerful response to the discourse over the attempt to annex the occupied West Bank."

Stating that "the attack proves Israel failed at preventing the resistance," Hamas added Israel also failed in its security coordination policy with the Palestinian Authority.

"This is proof the resistance among our people in the West Bank is ongoing and that the young will not stop the fight," Hamas said, "until the occupation is removed and the settlers are expelled."

Sorek, from the Ofra settlement, was in an IDF program called Hesder, by which he would have both served as a soldier and studied in yeshiva. The IDF is therefore treating him as if he was already a soldier.

Rabbi Shlomo Vilk, of the Machanaim Hesder Yeshiva where the young man studied, told Army radio the student had gone to Jerusalem to buy presents for his teachers and was attacked on his way back to school. Vilk explained that student was found with the books he had purchased.

He was a young man filled with faith and joy, Vilk said.

Binyamin Regional Council Head Israel Ganz, said that the "unbearable ease" with which a terrorist can commit murder should "shock the entire State of Israel."

Ganz called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to destroy the terrorist infrastructure and ensure the safety and security of the residents of Judea and Samaria.

The murder occurred not far away from the scene of the 2014 Gush Etzion kidnapping and murder of three teenagers.

Netanyahu vowed to capture the terrorists who stabbed Sorek to death.

"On behalf of myself and the government, I send condolences to the family," the prime minister said.

President Reuven Rivlin likewise expressed his support of the security forces "who are now chasing the murderers" and vowed "we will not rest until we catch them."

Rivlin said that when "faced with terrible terror, we will act with a harsh, uncompromising hand for the wellbeing of our citizens wherever they may be."

Tkuma leader Betzalel Smotrich responded on social media by slamming the Palestinian Authority, which he called first among those who support, speak out in favor of and send terrorists, he called to restore Israeli deterrence and "extract a heavy price."

Head of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Liberman tied the event to what he called "surrendering to Gaza terror: The security services are aware of dozens of plans to carry out attacks against Jews. When we use the term 'understandings' we are using newspeak for what is in fact surrendering to terror."

Education Minister Rafi Peretz said that "the heart aches over a youth picked in the beginning of his life" and called for "a clear message, the spilling of Jewish blood will not be forgiven."

Politicians on the Center-Left also spoke out, such as former Labor Party head Amir Peretz, who commended the IDF for finding the student's body and said he expects the soldiers to likewise nab the terrorist or terrorists responsible for Sorek's murder "quickly."

Blue and White's Gabi Ashkenazi called the attack "another proof of the erosion" of Israel's security situation, while Blue and White's Moshe Ya'alon sent his condolences to Sorek's family on Twitter.