A Palestinian man was shot dead by Border Police forces late Monday night after he opened fire on soldiers stationed near the Tapuah Junction in the northern West Bank. One policeman was lightly injured in the incident.

Reports indicate that the Palestinian man approached the checkpoint and opened fire on Border Police. Security forces returned fire and fatally wounded the shooter, who later died of his wounds at the site.

Gershon Mesika, head of the Shomron Regional Council in Judea and Samaria, believes that the terrorist was encouraged by the formation of the new Hamas-Fatah unity government and the international support the new government has been receiving.

“The terrorists are getting a boost from the recognition by the US and Europe of the terrorist government of Hamas and the Palestinian authority,” said Mesika.

“It is time that Israel do what is good for Israel and stop thinking about what the world will say,” he added. “On this occasion, I would like to strengthen the IDF and its soldiers who stand guard day and night and protect the residents of Judea and Samaria and all of Israel.”

Monday’s shooting is the second recent attack at the Tapuah junction. Last week, Border Police noticed a Palestinian man wearing a heavy coat despite the sweltering heat. Forces ordered the Palestinian to stop and discovered he was wearing an explosive vest.

Policeman from the Alon battalion prevented the 20-year-old Nablus resident from carrying out a suicide bombing. The terrorist was arrested and the bomb neutralized. The explosive belt was made up of 12 pipe bombs connected with electric wires.

IDF sources believe that the terrorist was planning on carrying out an attack against IDF soldiers stationed nearby or against an Israeli city.