The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement on Thursday, calling the terror attacks in Tel Aviv and Gush Etzion “the bloodiest day in Israel since this latest round of Palestinian violence began back in September.”
3 killed, including American tourist, in terrorist shooting near Gush Etzion in the West Bank
A Palestinian terrorist killed an American, an Israeli and a Palestinian on Thursday afternoon when he shot at cars stuck in a traffic jam near the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank.
Seven others were lightly wounded in the attack, two Israeli women and five American yeshiva students. They were all evacuated to the Sha’are Tzedek Medical Center. The Americans are due to be released. while the two Israeli women will be hospitalized overnight.
Ezra Schwartz, an 18-year old American on a gap year in Israel was among three victims of a terror attack late Thursday afternoon at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank. Seven others were lightly wounded in the attack.
He was in a van with five others friends from the Beit Shemesh yeshiva where he studied. They had been in the area to distribute food to soldiers stationed in the region.
A Palestinian who drove from the direction of the Kfar Etzion junction, machined gunned the cars, with an automatic rifle, before hitting a vehicle. Security forces surrounded the terrorist and arrested him.
Magen David Adom paramedics pronounced Schwartz dead at the scene. His five friends were evacuated to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, three were treated for light injuries and two for shock. They were all released.
A second victim from the attack, Palestinian Shadi Arafeh, 24, of Hebron, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Yaakov Don, 51, a teacher and father of four who lived in the nearby Alon Shvut settlement was evacuated to Hadassah Medical Center in serious condition and was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the hospital.
The incident followed shortly after a fatal terrorist attack that occurred in Tel Aviv earlier in the day.
A Palestinian terrorist stabbed three people in south Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing two of them and wounding another.
In that attack, police said that the terrorist attempted to flee the scene, but was apprehended by civilians who subdued him until police forces arrived on the scene. The suspect was arrested and taken in for questioning.
The Shin Bet stated that the attacker was a 36-year-old Palestinian from the village of Dura near Hebron. He did not have a previous security record. According to initial reports, the suspect had a permit to work in Israel and was employed at a nearby restaurant.
Photo Credit: Fire Department
