Son of Israeli Ambassador to US Critically Injured in West Bank Terror Attack

Neriah Laiter, son of Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Laiter, was critically wounded in a car-ramming attack near Route 443 on Wednesday. Laiter, a reservist soldier, was serving his second tour of duty since the October 7th Hamas attacks, having previously lost his older brother, Moshe Yedidya Laiter, who was killed in combat in Gaza three years ago. The family has requested prayers for Neriah Dov ben Hannah's recovery. Ambassador Laiter is en route back to Israel from New York.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Laiter family at Shaare Zedek Medical Center before departing for a UN assembly, urging the public to pray for Neriah's recovery. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and President Isaac Herzog all issued statements expressing solidarity with the family and praying for Neriah's healing. Several regional leaders, including Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan and Benjamin Regional Council head Israel Gantz, also offered support and called for stronger action against Palestinian terrorism.

The attacker, identified as Mahmoud Muhammad Mahmoud Suleiman, 29, from the village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, was killed by security forces at the scene. Security officials believe the attack was premeditated, with the perpetrator acting alone and using a stolen Israeli license plate to approach the checkpoint undetected. He was not previously known to security services and was not supposed to be within the Green Line. IDF and Shin Bet forces entered the attacker's village to interrogate his family.

This incident follows another attack in the Benjamin region just days prior, where Natanel Shicron was killed in a shooting near the settlement of Neve Tzuf. The attacker in that incident, from the Palestinian village of Biddu, was apprehended. The Laiter family, originally from the settlement of Eli in the Benjamin region, has now suffered a devastating loss with the critical injury of their son, following the death of their elder son in combat.