The Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced on Tuesday morning, January 19, that a Palestinian teenager was arrested on suspicion of murdering 39-year old mother of six, Dafna Meir on Sunday.

The terrorist had entered the community of Otniel, in southern Judea, through a hole in the fence and went on to murder Dafna Meir in her own home in front of three of her children on Sunday evening, January 17.

After two days of intensive investigation by the IDF and the Shin Bet, a 15-year-old resident of Yatta, a Palestinian village located near Otniel, was apprehended and taken in for questioning. Palestinian sources named the suspect as Murad Bader Abdullah Adais.

There was a similar stabbing attack that took place the next day on Monday, January 18, by a 15-year-old Palestinian inside the Jewish community of Tekoa, located in the Gush Etzion bloc. The terrorist stabbed and wounded Michal Froman, a 30-year-old pregnant Israeli woman before he was shot and killed.

Yochai Damri, Head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, commented on the capture of the suspect. “I came this morning to the Meir family’s residence to tell them that the terrorist was captured. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of all residents of Mount Hebron, to the IDF soldiers who pursued the terrorist for 36 hours (after the attack) and arrested him.”

“We are not afraid, and as I previously said this will only strengthen us,” added Damri. “I call on the Israeli government to promptly respond by draining the swamp rather than simply removing the flies.”