A Palestinian terrorist who hit three Israelis on Saturday night in a car ramming attack was an officer in the Palestinian Authority security services, Palestinian media reports said.

Mahmud Baradiyah, 23, from a village near Hebron, injured three Israelis, one seriously, before being shot dead.

Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah faction recently bragged about its “two terror fronts:” Fatah’s military wing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, and the PA’s security services.

Last September, Ahmed Ayman Abed, a graduate from the Palestinian Authority’s police academy who worked in the Palestinian security services’ intelligence branch, killed an Israeli soldier, Maj. Bar Falach.

Several months earlier, PA security officer Muhammad Husam al-Tubasi was arrested over his involvement in terror attacks against Israeli forces.

Gush Etzion Regional Council Chairman, and Yesha Council Head, Shlomo Ne’eman, responded to Saturday night’s attack: “Once again, our enemies are raising their heads and attempting the murder of Jews just because they are Jews.”

The attack came during the Muslim month of Ramadan, which has seen a spike in Palestinian violence.

The army on Friday announced a closure on Judea and Samaria, barring entry to Palestinians over the first and last days of Passover.

Three Israelis were wounded on Saturday night in a car-ramming attack near the village of Beit Umar, located northwest of Hebron in Judea.

Magen David Adom emergency medical personnel treated the victims, all men in their 20s, before evacuating them to the hospital.

One of the men was in serious condition, another was moderately wounded and the third was lightly hurt.

The terrorist was “neutralized,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

On Friday, an Arab Israeli from the Bedouin town of Hura, near Be’er Sheva, was shot dead in Jerusalem’s Old City after he attempted to steal an officer’s weapon, police reported.

When officers stopped 26-year-old Mohammed Elasibi for questioning near the Temple Mount, he attacked one of them, grabbing their firearm and firing off two shots.

“A suspect advanced towards the policemen who were at the Chain Gate [entrance to the Mount], and the policemen questioned him. During the conversation, the terrorist rushed towards one of them, who struggled with his bare hands against the terrorist,” said Jerusalem District Cmdr. Doron Turgeman.

“The terrorist managed to pull out a policeman’s weapon and shoot in the direction of two police officers. The officers struggled with the suspect, recovered the weapon and neutralized the terrorist. This area is not covered by cameras when the gate is closed,” he added.

While Elasibi’s family and witnesses disputed the account, Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai on Saturday night said he had “no doubt” about what took place.

“After hearing from the district commander and being privy to all the data regarding the incident, I have no doubt that this is a terrorist attack,” said Shabtai. “The picture here is very clear: This is an attack that was carried out against police officers who were operating at the gate of the Temple Mount in order to allow freedom of worship and maintain order and public safety.”

Shabtai noted that the event was nevertheless under investigation and that it was not possible to discuss all the details.

“We fully support the police officers and commanders who acted. We are in a very sensitive security period, with the police deployed widely throughout the country and working in an expanded format. The police are upright and do their job to the best of their abilities,” he said.

Sources: JNS/World Israel News