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Photo:
IDF guard near Jewish of Otniel in West Bank January 17, 2016, after woman killed in her home when an assailant broke into her house and attacked her, the Israeli army and a local settlement officia. Credit: Reuters published by Haaretz

Victim of Sunday's stabbing attack: Dafna Meir, 39, a mother of 6 from Otniel. Credit: Courtesy

IDF forces search area near Otniel after Palestinian stabs and kills Israeli woman in West Bank. Credit: IDF publshed by Haaretz
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HEBRON (Maan) -- An Israeli woman was stabbed and killed in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron on Sunday, an Israeli army spokesperson said.

An Israeli army spokesperson said a "terrorist" broke into the home of a woman in the illegal Israeli settlement of Otniel, south of Hebron city, and stabbed her, before fleeing the scene.
Before the woman succumbed to her wounds, a spokesperson from Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical service, said an Israeli woman was being treated in "severe condition."

Israeli forces told residents of Otniel to remain in their homes, as large numbers of soldiers and police officers begin to search for the suspect, Hebrew media reported.

The victim of the attack has yet to be identified.

Hours before the incident, Israeli border guard officers, stationed at a checkpoint at the western entrance to the illegal Kiryat Arbaa settlement in Hebron, detained a teenage Palestinian woman after they reportedly found a knife in her bag.

Local sources in Hebron identified the girl as 18-year-old Nivin Muhsin al-Jaabari.

Earlier on Sunday, a Palestinian was shot and killed following an alleged attempted stabbing attack in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, an Israeli army spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the "assailant" was shot and killed after attempting to attack and stab Israeli soldiers "securing the area," adding that no Israelis were injured during the incident.

The Palestinian man was identified as Wissam Marwan Qasrawa, 21, from the village of Masliya south of Nablus.
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by Chaim Levinson and Gili Cohen for Haaretz. 9:30 pm update

Children of 39-year-old Dafna Meir were at home at the time of the attack; IDF combing through area as residents of Otniel, the victim's settlement, are asked to remain inside.

Israeli security forces are searching for a terrorist who stabbed an Israeli woman to death at her home in the West Bank settlement of Otniel and fled on Sunday.

A manhunt is underway and security forces are searching the area using drones, helicopters and dogs.

The victim has been identifed as Dafna Meir, a 39-year-old mother of six.
Three of her children were at home at the time of the attack. She struggled with the terrorist at the entrance of the home until he fled. The Israel Police are conducting a widespread search in the area in the southern Hebron Hills. Police called on Otniel residents to remain inside their homes.

The army said it believes that the assailant has fled to the adjacent Palestinian village of Khirbet Crama. As a result, the IDF has set up roadblocks in the area and forces have entered the village.
Noam Bar, a Magen David Adom medic who was called to the murder scene said: "We found an unconscious woman about 40 years old, who was not breathing and had no pulse. She suffered from stab wounds to her upper body." He added extensive resuscitation efforts failed, and the victim was declared dead.

An Otniel resident who was near the attack said: "I sat a few dozen meters from the home. I heard a scream. I didn't understand what was happening. I saw him (the terrorist) running, within two-three seconds he was down below. At first I didn't understand what was happening… I didn't see his face at all."

Meir was survived by her husband, Nathan, and six children. Meir was a licensed nurse who specialized in various issues of gynecology and Jewish legal aspects. She ran a clinic in Otniel, and she was a nurse at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.  She also ran a blog.

The head of the Hebron Hills Regional Council, Yohai Damari, said: "The woman defended with all her soul the three children who were home. Otniel has seen these kinds of incidents. Otniel is in deep mourning and is prepared for the coming ones. We will only grow from this despicable murder. Nothing will stop us."

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon was briefed on the Otniel attack and the hunt for the terrorist. He commented Sunday evening: "The murder today in Otniel teaches us once again what kind of cruel and uncontrolled enemy we face. The security forces – the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet and Israel Police – will apprehend the murderer and those who sent him, if there were any. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we settle the score with the terrorist, wherever he may be." 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote about the murder on his Facebook page. "I embrace and give strength to the family in the name of all Israeli citizens," he posted. "We are all hurting and share in their heavy sorrow. We will find the terrorist and he will pay the full price for this abominable murder."

President Reuven Rivlin called Damari Sunday evening to convey his concern and sympathies to all the residents of the community. Rivlin said: "This is a horrific tragedy, and I am with you with all of my heart. This is shocking and terrible. At this time of grief, disbelief, and pain, I am sure you are focused on doing all that is needed in order to help the family and all the residents of the community."
Earlier Sunday, a Palestinian attempted to stab a soldier in the vicinity of Nablus, near Hawara. A soldier in the area shot him dead. No one else was injured in the incident.

An initial investigation of the incident revealed that a Palestinian neared a guard post in a square controlled by the regional battalion and tried to stab the soldier in the post. Another soldier shot and killed him.

Last November, Rabbi Ya'akov Litman and his son Netanel were murdered in a shooting attack nearby Otniel. Two family members were lightly wounded and evacuated to hospital along with three other members of the family, who were treated for shock. Hebron resident Shadi Matua, 28, was arrested the following day on suspicion of perpetrating the attack.