IDF orders drastic measures to raise Judea & Samaria security after terrorist severely wounds Israeli soldier

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will deploy the headquarters of the 98th Division to reinforce the Judea and Samaria sector, in a bid to improve security after another soldier was seriously wounded in a terror attack on Wednesday.

The soldier was later identified as Neria Leiter, the son of Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yehiel Leiter, and the brother of Moshe Leiter (39), who fell during reserve duty in the Gaza Strip in November 2023.

Leiter was hit when a Palestinian terrorist rammed his car into him at a routine vehicle check on Route 443, near the city of Modi’in. Other troops opened fire on the terrorist as he attempted to flee and killed him.

I am grateful to the IDF, to the medical team at Shaare Zedek who are now fighting to save the life of Neria Dov ben Chana, and for the prayers of the people of Israel.

I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that when the people of Israel unite, miracles happen. Neria…

— Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter (@yechielleiter) September 23, 2026

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said medics treated Leiter on the scene before rushing him to a hospital in Jerusalem while in serious condition. The attack comes just days after Netanel Shukrun, a father of six children, was shot dead near the West Bank settlement of Neve Tzuf just before Yom Kippur.

“I am grateful to the IDF, to the medical team at Shaare Zedek who are now fighting to save the life of Neria Dov ben Chana, and for the prayers of the people of Israel. I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that when the people of Israel unite, miracles happen. Neria needs a miracle,” Ambassador Leiter stated while making his way back to Israel late on Wednesday.

He added, “Neria continued to serve in the reserves after losing his older brother, Moshe Yedidya Leiter, of blessed memory. Since October 7th, he has served hundreds of days in the reserves on multiple fronts. Palestinian terrorism seeks to uproot the people of Israel from their land. They choose death – we choose life.”

U.S. representatives have come out strongly against the recent uptick in violence by radical Jewish settler activists against Palestinians civilians, including Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a long-time strong supporter of the right for Jewish Israelis to live in the Biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

President Trump really doesn’t think the world right now needs a “West Bank crisis,” and that’s our position. pic.twitter.com/YfH0kU2eM2

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 23, 2026

Asked about the ongoing tensions in Judea and Samaria on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump made clear that “we don’t want to see additional flashpoints there, given everything that’s going on in the region now.”

Rubio noted that given the security tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran, “The last thing this region needs is an additional flashpoint, and the last thing we think Israel needs is an additional flashpoint… We’ve communicated to everyone that the president really doesn’t think the world right now needs a West Bank crisis.”

The world has a lot to say about Judea and Samaria.

Much less about the Palestinian terrorism there.

From January through July 2026:
2,335 terror attacks carried out.
2,285 foiled.
4 Israelis murdered.
67 wounded.

Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad & Fatah-affiliated terrorist… pic.twitter.com/IFPfBz0QfC

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 23, 2026

Against the background of the uptick in violence and the struggles of the military to cope with the ongoing, simultaneous threats in multiple arenas, the IDF announced that the 98th Division headquarters will take control of the Judea and Etzion regional brigades, effectively the southern part of the Judea and Samaria sector.

Such a move is seen as highly unusual and hasn’t been used since the early days of the Second Intifada. Normally, the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Regional Division commands the entire sector. Now, two full divisional headquarters will share that burden.

The military explained that this “is part of strengthening command and control, in order to enhance defensive and offensive capabilities in Judea and Samaria. This comes after recent events in Judea and Samaria and the need to enhance security during this tense period.”

The Israeli Foreign Ministry noted on Wednesday that “The world has a lot to say about Judea and Samaria. Much less about the Palestinian terrorism there.”

It pointed out that in the first half of 2026, 2,335 attempted terror attacks were registered, of which 2,285 were thwarted.

“4 Israelis murdered. 67 wounded. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad & Fatah-affiliated terrorist attacks. Shootings, IEDs, Rammings and the Palestinian Authority’s Pay-for-Slay policy. Just this Sunday, on Erev Yom Kippur, a Palestinian terrorist murdered an Israeli father of six. You cannot ignore Palestinian terror and pretend to understand Judea and Samaria,” the ministry stated.

Israel Police confirmed Wednesday that Israeli commandos detained a senior member of the Palestinian Authority’s security services during a highly unusual raid south of Nablus.

According to Palestinian media, the suspect is Majdi Amer, a colonel in the Palestinian Authority’s Preventive Security Service. The police said he is suspected of advancing terror activities.