Security forces to continue search for stabbing suspect

17 year-old stabbing victim's condition improves to moderate; activists accuse Schalit deal of inspiring wave of terrorism.

By MELANIE LIDMAN
Border Police forces 311 (R) (photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Border Police forces 311 (R)
(photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Large IDF and Border Police forces were expected to continue searching Sunday morning in the town of Beit Iksa for a suspect in the stabbing of a Jewish youth in Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood Saturday, Army Radio reported.
A 17-year-old Jewish boy was stabbed by an Arab man in the capital’s Ramot neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.
RELATED:Hebron: Border Police stop Palestinian stabbing attack
The victim was sitting on the street with a friend when the attacker walked up, stabbed him and immediately fled, Jerusalem Deputy Police Spokeswoman Shlomit Bajshi said.
From the initial investigation, police believe the attacker had nationalist motives, though other directions are also being investigated.
Police, soldiers and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) personnel combed the area around Ramot in search of the suspect Saturday evening. The neighborhood is located in northwest Jerusalem, over the pre-1967 Green Line.
The victim was evacuated to Hadassah University Medical Center in Ein Kerem in serious condition. His condition later improved to satisfactory.
Politicians were quick to condemn the attack.
“This hateful attack is an example of the Palestinian culture of terror. We must find the terrorist and destroy his home,” MK Danny Danon (Likud) said. “After our generosity, the time has come for strong action.”
“We are witnessing a renewed wave of terrorism, as a result of our encouraging terrorists by freeing hundreds of murderers from prison,” MK Arye Eldad (National Union) said. “Only rehabilitating our deterrence against Hamas by killing its leadership in Gaza, including [Ahmed] Ja’bari, who held Gilad Schalit – only action and not just reaction to a major terrorist attack – will be able to keep back the expected wave of terrorism and save the lives of Jewish people.”
Activists who were opposed to last week’s prisoner swap for tank gunner Schalit blamed Saturday’s attack on the deal.
A total of 477 security prisoners were released last week, and some 550 are to be released in December under the agreement with Hamas.
“The Shin Bet needs to personally apologize to this family, because the connection is clear that when Arab youth see a massive release of terrorists, it encourages them to join terrorism,” said Meir Indor, the head of the Almagor Terror Victims Association who filed petitions against the prisoner swap with the High Court of Justice.
Indor said he expected the freeing of security prisoners to incite a wave of “light” terrorism, including the throwing of stones and fire bombs, and stabbings, before a return to terrorist attacks inspired and organized by the released men.
The security establishment has repeatedly said that intelligence information is good enough to thwart any increase in terrorism.
Indor said he would campaign for implementation of the death penalty for convicted terrorists and a renewal of the demolition of the homes of
terrorists’ family as deterrents.
Lahav Harkov and JPost.com staff contributed to this report