A Palestinian terrorist today stabbed to death an Israeli father of five at a hitchhiking post in the West Bank. The attacker had been released from Israeli custody six months ago, after serving a three year prison sentence for trying to injure and kill Israelis with rocks.

The victim was identified as Evyatar Borovsky, 32, of Yitzhar. A photo of him is available here. Tapuah Junction, the scene of the attack, is a major intersection near the Israeli city of Ariel. There is a history of terrorist attacks at the site. In January a 17-year-old Israeli was stabbed there.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Capt. Barak Raz tweeted that the assailant stabbed Borovsky, then stole his weapon, then fired it at Israeli Border Police. They returned fire and managed to bring down the terrorist, who is said to be a Fatah operative named Salam Za’al. He was taken to the Rabin Medical Center in the Israeli city of Petah Tikva for treatment.

A Palestinian Authority court had recently sentenced Za’al’s brother to prison for collaborating with Israel. Israeli security officials are looking into the possibility that Za’al murdered Borovsky today in order to clear his family’s name.

Deadly terrorism has persisted in the West Bank, with incidents ranging from Palestinians throwing rocks at moving cars to home invasions. Two years ago five members of the Fogel family were murdered at their home in Itamar. In 2010 an off-duty Palestinian Authority police officer stabbed to death an Israeli soldier while the latter sat in his jeep at a traffic light. The victim was identified as Sgt. Maj. Ihab Khatib, 28, of the Galilee village of Maghar. The assailant, veteran police officer Mohammed Khatib (no relation) later told journalists he was “tired of living” and hoped to be shot to death.

[Photo: YNet]