An Israeli man was seriously wounded Monday evening after he was attacked by a Palestinian Authority Arab near the Jewish community of Maon, in the southern Hebron Hills.
The Israeli, a man in his thirties who works as a shepherd, was struck in the head by an Arab swinging a hoe, the Hebron Hills Regional Council said.
The public is being asked to pray for the swift recovery of Itamar ben Ila.
According to a security official quoted in a report by Israel’s KAN News public broadcaster, the incident took place as some 30 PA Arabs attacked two Israeli residents of the area.
Elchanan Groner, a correspondent for The Jewish Voice (Kol HaYehudi) reported Monday night in a tweet that the Arab attacker, Hafez al-Horini, is a Palestinian Authority police officer.
כלי תקשורת ערבים מדווחים שחאפז אל הוריני שתקף באורח קשה את התושב היהודי בהר חברון הוא שוטר פלסטיני
בעבר לפחות הוגדר חאפז כרכז הועד נגד גדרות והתהנחלויות באזור. אותו גוף שחשפנו בקול היהודי שאחראי לפרובוקציות והתקפות אלימות. המערכת צריכה להתעורר https://t.co/JPJ2tn3KxI
— אלחנן גרונר (@elchangr) September 12, 2022
Groner added that al-Horini has served in the past as coordinator of a committee that fights Jewish communities and fences in the area and which has been responsible for provocations and violent attacks against Jews.
Magen David Adom emergency medical personnel treated the wounded Israeli at the scene before transporting him to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, where he was listed in stable condition.
One Arab, also allegedly hurt in the melee, was arrested at the scene by Israel Police officers.
