The son of Israel’s ambassador to the United States was critically injured Tuesday in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank, according to officials.
Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said medical professionals are “fighting to save the life” of his son, Neria Leiter, who is serving in the Israeli military reserves. The ambassador said his son needs “a miracle” to survive what Israeli leaders described as a terrorist attack.
Neria Leiter was the victim of a car-ramming attack at an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank. The Israeli military said the terrorist who allegedly carried out the attack, identified as Mahmoud Suleiman, was shot dead by security forces at the scene. Suleiman reportedly accelerated toward a police cruiser stationed at the “Bell” checkpoint, running over Neria Leiter, who was operating alongside a police officer, authorities told the Times of Israel.
“I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that when the people of Israel unite, miracles happen,” the ambassador said in a post to X. “Palestinian terrorism seeks to uproot the people of Israel from their land. They choose death – we choose life.”
The West Bank is historically tied to the nation of Israel. Who should control it, whether Jerusalem or a new Palestinian state or entity, has been in dispute for decades. Israel still occupies parts of the West Bank, while the Palestinian Authority has some control over other areas. Critics of the Jewish state believe the country is a colonizing force that is unlawfully occupying the land, with the split in perspective leading to escalating tensions and brutal crime in the area.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee swiftly weighed in on the latest incident, offering his sympathies to the Leiter family.
“They lost a son in Gaza killed by Hamas. Now a Palestinian terrorist attempts to murder IDF soldiers at a checkpoint,” the U.S. ambassador said on X.
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed Neria is “fighting for his life,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added his condolences, saying “the entire nation” stands with the ambassador’s son.
“I recently visited the dear family of Neria Leiter, who was severely injured in the terrorist attack that took place today,” the prime minister said on X. “I ask you to pray for the recovery of Neria Dov ben Chana.”