By Pesach Benson • September 24, 2026
Jerusalem, 24 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s US ambassador Yechiel Leiter said Thursday that his son Neria remains in serious condition and his life is still in danger after being critically wounded in a car-ramming terror attack at a checkpoint in Judea and Samaria.
Leiter spoke to reporters outside Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after flying overnight from New York to be with his son, an Israel Defense Forces reservist who was seriously wounded in Wednesday’s attack near Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut.
“His life is still in danger,” Leiter said. “There was a fear that I would land here this morning without hope, but during the night the doctors were able to stabilize the situation.”
The hospital said Neria underwent a series of surgeries and examinations overnight and was in serious but stable condition.
Leiter contrasted his son’s situation with the death of his eldest son, Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, who was killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip in November 2023.
“This experience is different from the night when I received the knock on the door, when my eldest son fell in combat,” Leiter said. “He died instantly, and there was no possibility of bringing him to a hospital and allowing Israel’s doctors to save his life.”
“There was also no possibility for us to gather around his bedside, recite Psalms, and rally the people of Israel to pray for his recovery,” he added.
Neria Leiter has served hundreds of days in the reserves since his brother’s death, according to his father.
The attack occurred Wednesday at the Maccabim checkpoint on Route 443. According to the Israel Defense Forces and police, the Palestinian attacker accelerated toward a police vehicle stationed at the checkpoint, striking Leiter, who was on duty.
Security officials said the attacker, identified as Mahmoud Suleiman from the nearby Palestinian village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, was killed at the scene. Authorities said he was not previously known to security forces and that he was believed to have acted alone.
Leiter said he received news of the attack in New York shortly after an interview in which he had been asked about violence in Judea and Samaria.
He also described an extraordinary family moment at the hospital. Leiter said his daughter visited her wounded brother and subsequently went into labor, giving birth to a baby girl before the due date. She is now hospitalized at Shaare Zedek, about 40 meters from her brother.
Leiter called on the public to continue praying for Neria’s recovery.
“We feel we are in the best hands,” he said. “I am full of hope that he will come out of it this time and return to us safe and sound.”
