One man was killed and at least two others seriously injured in shooting attacks outside the West Bank settlement of Ariel on Sunday morning.
An IDF spokesperson said a solider was attacked at a junction at around 9.45am by the assailant who stole his weapon before shooting at civilians and three passing cars.
One civilian inside a car was struck by gunfire leaving him in critical condition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is "certain Israel Defence Forces, Shin Bet and security agencies chasing the terrorists will capture them. We will bring them to justice, just as we did it all recent cases."
Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis said: “We understand he stole the third car before he fled the scene,” adding that the attacker carried out a drive-by shooting at the Gitai Avishar junction, injuring another soldier.
The Gitai Avishar junction on Highway 5 is a central intersection of the highway which links Ariel to central Israel, with hundreds of Palestinian workers traveling through it daily.
The Jerusalem Post reported the IDF set up checkpoints and was checking vehicles in the area. Special forces are involved in the hunt for the attacker, the paper added.
Nearby Israeli communities shut their entrances while the attacker remains at large.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group did not claim responsibility for the attack but praised it, saying it “was carried out in order to move the compass and bring the struggle to its natural location.
"We welcome the attack and salute the rebel heroes in the West Bank”.
Hamas called the attack "a natural reaction to the crimes of the occupation against Al Aqsa Mosque Jerusalem and Palestinian prisoners" held by Israel.
