An IDF solider was lightly hurt overnight when he was assaulted at a guard's station in the IDF's Rama Base, north of Jerusalem.



The soldier was assaulted by two Palestinians who managed to breach the base's security fence.





The assailants sprayed him with pepper spray, overpowered him and stole his weapon. He sustained mild injuries and was treated by IDF medics on site.


IDF sources told Ynet the event was treated as a serious security failure, adding that although initial details point to the fact that the motive was likely criminal, the military is investigating the breach as an attempted terror attack.



Benyamin Spatial Brigade Commander Colonel Yossi Pinto arrived at the base in the early hours of Friday morning, as did Division Commander Brig.-Gen Hagai Mordechai, to oversee the inquiry.




Serious security failure. IDF base (Illustration: Effi Sharir)



Initial details suggest that the Palestinians used the cover of night and the heavy storm that raged in the area to breach the perimeter's fence and sneak up on the soldier undetected.



They threatened him and used a weapon to hit him over the head, before dousing him with pepper spray, using his surprise to snatch his rifle and flee the scene.



The soldier was lightly hurt and immediately reported the incident. Security forces launched a wide-net canvass of the area for the suspects. Shin Bet and forensics officers were called to the scene as well.



The fact that the Palestinians did not try to severely injure the soldier has led military investigators to believe the incident was criminal, rather that nationalistically motivated.



The inquiry will also look at how the two managed not only to breach the fence, but to get as far as the soldier's post without being detected.



Sources privy to the inquiry said that the investigation will also look into why the soldier did not engage the suspects and will try to discern whether he was properly briefed prior to assuming his post.



The question of whether the Palestinians were able to gather intelligence about the base, or perform any reconnaissance will also be examined.



The IDF said that while the solider did his best to protect himself and prevent the weapon theft, the close physical struggle prevented him from properly using his weapon to fend off his attackers.



"This event made everyone very nervous," a solider serving on the base told Ynet. "We're all very aware of the fact that this could have ended with an abduction or murder. No one understands how this could have happened."



Meanwhile, IDF forces operating in the West Bank overnight apprehended five Palestinians wanted for questioning by security forces.


Three men were detained north of Jenin and three more near Tulkarem. The men were taken in for further interrogation.



The IDF said that three Molotov cocktails were hurled at an IDF post near Nablus during the night. No injuries or damage were reported.

A probe into an incident that saw two Palestinians breaking into an IDF base found that the soldier guarding the entrance to the site failed to discharge his weapon before being overpowered by the intruders.

The break-in occurred around 1:45 am Friday as a storm raged in the area of the base, which overlooks the Palestinian village of Al-Ram near Jerusalem. The intruders managed to cut the perimeter fence, taking advantage of the boisterous weather to slip into the military facility undetected.

The soldier, who belongs to the 402nd battalion of the Artillery Corps and has been stationed in the area for the past few months, failed to notice the assailants as they were climbing to his observation tower due to the low visibility. Upon hearing their footsteps he called out "Who's there?" twice. When no one answered he opened the door.



The two Palestinians then pounced on the soldier, dousing his face with pepper spray. They struck his head and pushed him inside. He tried to discharge his rifle but failed, resorting instead to hitting them with the weapon's barrel, to no avail. The assailants grabbed the rifle and fled, leaving behind the fake gun that they used to threaten the him.



Due to the severity of the incident the army decided to immediately dispatch large forces from within the Judea and Samaria Division, even though the incident appeared criminal in nature. Intelligence services were activated to the same extent as they would be during a major terror attack.



Army officials said that considering the circumstances, the soldier reacted in a suitable manner by trying to fight back.



The attack underscores a rise in the number of incidents that see troops assailed by Palestinians.



The security protocols have been emphasized at bases in the region following the incident. Some posts are expected to be reinforced with additional troops, observation spots and lighting.