Za'tara checkpoint
| Za'tara checkpoint | |
|---|---|
The checkpoint in 2010 | |
| Locaiton | |
| Location | West Bank |
| Coordinates | 32°6′55″N 35°15′17″E / 32.11528°N 35.25472°E |
| Details | |
| Opened | 2005 |
| Operated by | Israel Defence Forces |
The Za'tara checkpoint (Arabic: حاجز زعترة), also known as the Tapuach Junction (Hebrew: צומת תפוח), is an Israeli checkpoint in central West Bank established in 2005.[1] The checkpoint is located near the Palestinian village Za'tara and the Israeli settlement Kfar Tapuach. The junction that the checkpoint is located at connects Highway 60 with Route 505, and is a traffic point between Ramallah and Nablus.[2][3]
There have been several instances of individuals being found with explosive devices near the checkpoint,[4] and the IDF has established an army camp west of the checkpoint for security purposes.[5]
On 14 July 2020, Israel announced its intention to seize about 1,401 dunams of land from the village of Yasuf to construct a water pumping station for the nearby Kfar Tapuach.[6][7]
Attacks
- On 10 February 2010, IDF Major General Ihab Khatib was killed when a Palestinian police officer carried out a stabbing attack.[8]
- On 21 April 21 2012, Israel Border Police officers intercepted an attempted attack at the intersection and arrested two 17-year-olds. The two were armed with 4 pipe bombs, a gun, and ammunition.[9]
- On 29 January 29 2013, an Israeli teenager was stabbed while waiting at a traffic light at an intersection. The teenager was slightly injured in his stomach.[10]
- On 30 April 2013, Evyatar Borovsky was murdered in a stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian terrorist who was a member of the Fatah. A monument was erected in Evyatar's memory at the intersection, as well as in the settlement of Evyatar.
- On the night of 2-3 June 2014, a Border Guard soldier was injured by gunfire from a terrorist at an intersection. IDF forces killed the prepetrator soon afterwards.[11]
- On 2 October 2014, Border Guard soldiers intercepted an attempted attack and arrested two Palestinians who carried explosive devices.[12]
- On 24 November 2015, a Palestinian carried out a car bombing attack at the Tapuach Junction, injuring several IDF soldiers, including officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel and lieutenant colonel. The perpetrator was shot and seriously injured.[13]
- On 19 October 2016, a resident from Asira ash-Shamaliya attempted to carry out a stabbing attack against Border Guard soldiers at the checkpoint. The perpetrator was killed soon afterwards.[14]
- On 20 April 2019, a Palestinian attempted to carry out a stabbing attack against Border Police soldiers at the checkpoint. He was shot and wounded by a police officer, and died from his wounds a week later.[15]
- On 2 May 2021, a shooting attack occurred at the intersection leaving three civilians injured.[16] Yehuda Guetta, who was critically injured in the shooting attack, later died of his wounds. Three days later, IDF forces arrested the perpetrator in the village of Silwad and later demolished his house in the village of Turmus Ayya.[17]
- On 31 January 2023, a car accident occurred at the intersection, injuring two IDF reserve soldiers.[18]
References
- ^ "מחסום חדש יהפוך את צפון הגדה ל"קנטון" נפרד" [New checkpoint will turn the northern West Bank into a separate "canton"] (in Hebrew). Ha'aretz. 29 October 2005. Archived from the original on 23 November 2025.
- ^ "تجريف استيطاني جديد قرب حاجز زعترة بسلفيت" [New settlement bulldozing near Za'tara checkpoint in Salfit] (in Arabic). Ma'an News Agency. 4 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018.
- ^ "إسرائيل تفصل شمالي الضفة عن باقي مناطقها" [Israel separates the northern West Bank from the rest of its territory] (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 24 April 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019.
- ^ Saban, Itzik (22 April 2012). "Israel Hayom - 22 April 2012" (in Hebrew). Israel Hayom. p. 7.
- ^ "معسكرات وقواعد عسكرية إسرائيلية في محافظة سلفيت" [Israeli military camps and bases in the Salfit Governorate] (in Arabic). Wafa. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020.
- ^ "سلطات الاحتلال تخطر بالاستيلاء على قطعة أرض في ياسوف" [The occupation authorities notify of the seizure of a plot of land in Yasuf] (in Arabic). Al Hadath. 14 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
- ^ "سلطات الاحتلال تخطر بالاستيلاء على قطعة أرض في ياسوف" [Israeli occupation authorities notify residents of land seizure in Yasuf] (in Arabic). Al-Watan. 14 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
- ^ "ח'טיב בדר, איהאב" [Khatib Badr, Ihab] (in Hebrew). Yizkor. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "סוכל פיגוע: נלכדו מחבלים עם מטענים ליד תפוח" [Attack foiled: Terrorists with explosives captured near Tapuach] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
- ^ "פיגוע בצומת תפוח: בן 17 נפצע, הדוקר נעצר" [Attack at Tapuach Junction: 17-year-old injured, stabbing suspect arrested] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013.
- ^ "מחבל נורה למוות בצומת תפוח" [Terrorist shot dead at Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
- ^ "נמנע פיגוע בצומת תפוח" [Attack prevented at Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Israel National News. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020.
- ^ "קצינים בדרגת אל"מ וסא"ל, קצין במג"ב ולוחם בצה"ל נפצעו בפיגוע דריסה בצומת תפוח" [Officers with the rank of colonel and lieutenant colonel, a Border Guard officer, and an IDF soldier were injured in a car bombing at Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
- ^ "ניסיון פיגוע בשומרון" [Attempted terrorist attack in Samaria] (in Hebrew). Israel National News. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020.
- ^ "הפלסטינים: מת המחבל מניסיון הפיגוע בצומת תפוח" [Palestinians: Terrorist dies in attempted attack at Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Walla. 27 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024.
- ^ "טרור בשומרון: תלמידי ישיבת איתמר נפצעו אנוש וקשה בפיגוע ירי בצומת תפוח" [Terrorism in Samaria: Itamar Yeshiva students seriously injured in shooting attack at Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Israel National News. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021.
- ^ "צה"ל הרס את בית המחבל שרצח תלמיד ישיבה בצומת תפוח" [The IDF destroyed the home of the terrorist who murdered a yeshiva student at the Tapuach Junction] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021.
- ^ "חשד לפיגוע בצומת תפוח: שני לוחמים נפצעו בינוני וקל, הדורס הסגיר עצמו" [Suspected attack at Tapuach Junction: Two soldiers moderately and lightly injured, the attacker turned himself in] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023.