Home of Raanana Attacker Raided by Israeli Forces

The home of the 20-year old Palestinian who stabbed three Israelis in the city of Raanana on Saturday was the target of a raid by Israeli troops on Sunday. Mahmoud Faisal B’sharat had been arrested after allegedly carrying out the assault that left one seriously injured and two lightly wounded. A day later, troops arrived at his home in the village of Tammun and, according to Palestinian sources, ransacked the B’sharat home before being attacked by Palestinian youth hurling rocks. One Palestinian who was shot with live rounds and three others who were wounded by rubber bullets were hospitalized. Since the beginning of October when seemingly random street violence typified by Palestinians stabbing Israelis or trying to run them over with vehicles became rife, 19 Israelis and 125 Palestinians have been killed. Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered the homes of terrorists to be destroyed – a measure the Palestinians charge constitutes illegal collective punishment. In a reversal of policy, Israel has begun to return the bodies of terrorists killed during acts of violence to their families. Despite a decision by the security cabinet to withhold terrorists’ bodies in order to prevent raucous funerals and incitement, the body of a 14-year old female killed in the act of stabbing people in Jerusalem last month was returned on Friday followed by two more after families promised to hold small funerals.