Another West Bank shooting: 2 Israelis hurt

YNet News (Link) - Aviel Magnezi, Hanan Greenberg, Ronen Medzini & Ali Waked (September 2, 2010)

Terror returns to West Bank: Two Israelis wounded after shots fired at their vehicle east of Ramallah Wednesday night. Army spokesman: Victims managed to get out of vehicle, hid in nearby wadi before calling for help.

An Israeli couple was wounded Wednesday night in a West Bank shooting attack after Palestinian terrorists opened fire at an Israeli vehicle traveling in the Ramallah area.

The shooting victims were identified as Jordan Rift Valley residents Shira and Moshe Morano.

Hamas� military wing, the Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for Wednesday�s shooting attack. Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority security forces continued a wave of arrests targeting Hamas members in the West Bank.

The two shooting victims in Wednesday�s attack were a man, who sustained moderate wounds, and a woman, who was lightly hurt - both in their 30s. Magen David Adom officials said the wounded man sustained leg injuries, while the woman suffered from blows as result of the vehicle overturning.

Their vehicle, which was attacked between the communities of Rimonim and Kochav Hashachar on Route 60, turned over and landed in a ditch.

The latest attack follows a deadly shooting Tuesday that left four Israelis dead near Hebron.

PA: Hamas trying to thwart talks

IDF Central Command Spokesman Peter Lerner, who arrived at the site of Wednesday�s attack, said the shooting victims managed to get out of the vehicle and flee the scene.

�The wounded came out of the vehicle and ran away to the wadi, where they waited for fear that they would be killed,� he said. �Later they climbed back and called for help�the army, Shin Bet, and police have launched an investigation into the incident, yet at this moment there are no leads.�

The attackers apparently fired at the Israeli car from a passing vehicle, he said.

IDF troops were scouring the area and also searching for a suspicious vehicle seen at the site.

Palestinian security forces also launched an investigation into the attack.

A Palestinian security official told Ynet that the Palestinian Authority considered the attack a grave incident and blamed Hamas for �trying to return the West Bank into a state of anarchy, in order to thwart the political process.�

The Palestinians said that PA security forces were deployed at all Ramallah-area roads in an effort to spot the suspicious vehicle pursued by the Israeli army. The IDF has sealed off all access routes to the city, PA officials said.

Following the attack, Palestinian security chiefs were scheduled to hold an emergency session Wednesday night. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has ordered officials to take any steps necessary to curb Hamas� ability to carry out attacks.