# Terrorist car crash in Jerusalem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176 "2014-10-22T18:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/1 "2014-10-22T18:44:24Z")
[Link](http://www.jta.org/2014/10/22/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/9-hurt-in-suspected-terror-attack-on-jerusalem-light-rail) “Israeli media have published unconfirmed reports naming the driver as a former Palestinian prisoner from the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan” Would that be a prisoner released in a hostage trade? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/2 "2014-10-22T18:54:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > [Link](http://www.jta.org/2014/10/22/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/9-hurt-in-suspected-terror-attack-on-jerusalem-light-rail) > > “Israeli media have published unconfirmed reports naming the driver as a former Palestinian prisoner from the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan” > > Would that be a prisoner released in a hostage trade? No-That would be an unconfirmed report. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/3 "2014-10-22T18:58:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No-That would be an unconfirmed report. That was not the question. “Would” makes the question conditional, asking the identity of a referenced person, IF certain facts are established, including a subsequent confirmation of the report. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/4 "2014-10-22T20:43:58Z")
We’d have to know the identity of the person before we could find out the exact reason he was released from prison, wouldn’t we? Being released in a hostage trade isn’t the only way to get out of an Israeli prison. Also we’d have to find out if he had actually spent time in an Israeli prison before we could find out why he was released. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/5 "2014-10-22T21:21:30Z")
Let me rephrase the question. 🙂 Does the rumor that the driver was a released prisoner mention whey he was released, or for what he was imprisoned? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/6 "2014-10-22T21:27:09Z")
You are asking for details of an unsubstantiated rumor? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/7 "2014-10-22T21:48:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are asking for details of an unsubstantiated rumor? What’s wrong with that? Just because information may be incorrect, that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Data is data. You don’t think intelligence analysts study rumors? Anyway, according to Palestinian sources, the attacker was release last December after 16 months in prison for unspecified “security-related offenses”. If true, then it was probably simply because his prison term ended. There were no prisoner exchanges last December. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/8 "2014-10-22T21:53:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > What’s wrong with that? Just because information may be incorrect, that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Data is data. You don’t think intelligence analysts study rumors? What’s wrong with it? Seriously? How about this one general issue. This is General Questions, where a higher standard supposedly applies. Speculation belongs in IMHO, does it not? Move the thread, and I don’t think there is an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/9 "2014-10-22T22:03:46Z")
The OP asked what the rumor was. As this rumor has appeared on a number of reputable news sources, the question as to what its text consisted of has a clear and unequivocal answer. That makes it GQ-worthy. Whether or nor the quote in question is true is a different question. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/10 "2014-10-22T23:58:36Z")
Ah well, at least no self appointed hall monitors have yet posted, “Reported.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/11 "2014-10-23T00:06:35Z")
To make matters even worse, the OP composed the title of the thread, classifying the incident as “terrorist”, with no way to know the motive of the perpetrator. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/12 "2014-10-23T00:12:16Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > To make matters even worse, the OP composed the title of the thread, classifying the incident as “terrorist”, with no way to know the motive of the perpetrator. Thank you. The picture of the wrecked car sells me on terrorism. That’s not losing control and crashing into a building. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/13 "2014-10-23T02:13:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are asking for details of an unsubstantiated rumor? **Moderating** The question as it stands is appropriate. If you don’t have information to contribute, you’re not required to respond. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/14 "2014-10-23T02:23:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The picture of the wrecked car sells me on terrorism. That’s not losing control and crashing into a building. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/15 "2014-10-23T03:08:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderating** > > The question as it stands is appropriate. If you don’t have information to contribute, you’re not required to respond. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Just the [CNN report](http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/meast/jerusalem-hit-and-run/index.html), which quotes the Palestinian-run Silwan Information Center as stating that the driver’s name was Abdulrahman Shallodi. Also, in a tweet, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that the driver was an Arab resident of Silwan who had served time in an Israeli prison. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/16 "2014-10-23T03:11:04Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > Why not? One of the MacPerson struts was ripped off. That takes a serious impact. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/17 "2014-10-23T03:58:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just the [CNN report](http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/meast/jerusalem-hit-and-run/index.html), which quotes the Palestinian-run Silwan Information Center as stating that the driver’s name was Abdulrahman Shallodi. Also, in a tweet, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that the driver was an Arab resident of Silwan who had served time in an Israeli prison. Thank you. Much better. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/18 "2014-10-23T04:55:24Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > One of the MacPerson struts was ripped off. That takes a serious impact. Serious car impacts can only be caused by terrorism now? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-car-crash-in-jerusalem/702176/19 "2014-10-23T12:21:26Z")
After the kidnap-murder of three Israeli teenagers, didn’t Israel re-arrest most of the prisoners they had given their word to free as part of the swap with Gaza? IIRC, most of those were West Bank residents anyway, so would not be wandering/driving Israeli-controlled territory. Last time I was there, road blocks stopped Palestinian residents from crossing. The article makes no mention of the car being stolen, so presumably he was entitled to Israeli (blue?) license plates? Plus, I haven’t seen the statistics, but what proportion of the Arab adult male population of East Jerusalem could be described as “once a prisoner”? As others have mentioned, there are a lot of reasons why someone would be in jail, and released. > [@](#): > > One of the MacPerson struts was ripped off. That takes a serious impact. OTOH, there’s barely any damage to the front end; the grill is intact, the front end hardly looks pushed in. The video certainly seems to show a car plowing through passengers on the platform, not into a solid obstacle like a train or building. I’m surprised in a security-conscious place like that, the platform does not have the protective posts you find around stores in the USA - if only to protect against unintentional car accidents.