On 22 September 2008, a Palestinian drove a BMW saloon car into a group of civilians and off-duty soldiers in a terrorist ramming attack in Jerusalem, injuring 19 people.

Stratfor Global Intelligence analysts say this attack represents a new terrorist tactic which is less lethal but could prove more difficult to prevent than suicide bombing.

"[3] According to Stratfor, the American global intelligence firm, "while not thus far as deadly as suicide bombing", this tactic could prove more difficult to prevent.

Mahmoud Mughrabi, Qassem's father, said his son did not have a driving license and apparently lost control of the car.

However, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said authorities were convinced the attack was politically motivated.

[11] A number of Israeli Members of Parliament called for the demolition of the home of the assailant, as a means of discouraging future attacks.