Three killed in Halamish bloodbath
IT was meant to be a baby shower. Instead, it became a bloodbath. Three Israelis were buried on Sunday, after their lives came to an abrupt and brutal end two days earlier, as they digested their dinner and waited for guests to arrive to celebrate the birth of a new baby.
IT was meant to be a baby shower. Instead, it became a bloodbath.
Three Israelis were buried on Sunday, after their lives came to an abrupt and brutal end two days earlier, as they digested their dinner and waited for guests to arrive to celebrate the birth of a new baby.
The nation has been haunted by the photos from the scene – of a table with a crisp white Sabbath cloth, and snacks awaiting guests for the shalom zachar, the traditional gathering to celebrate a baby boy’s arrival.
A Palestinian attacker stabbed and murdered the father of the house, and grandfather of the baby, Yossi Salomon. He also fatally stabbed Yossi’s 46-year-old daughter Chaya and his 36-year-old son Elad.
The attacker, who is alive as he was neutralised by non-fatal wounds, didn’t only claim lives, but urged others to do likewise. Hamas supporter Omar al-Abed, 19, from the West Bank, wrote a “will” on Facebook urging other Palestinians: “Take up your weapon and resist, declare war for Allah.”
He wrote: “My will to you. I am a boy who has not yet reached 20. I have many dreams and aspirations, I know that with Allah’s help my dreams will come true. I’ve loved life, making people smile, but what kind of life is this?”
He claimed that this joy in life is less important than his national fight, and appeared to connect his actions to Palestinian anger over the installation of metal detectors – since removed – at entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which prompted Palestinians to boycott the site. “They closed Al-Aqsa, and what about your weapon?,” he wrote. “I have only a knife, and it will respond to Al-Aqsa’s cry.”
The scene that al-Abed created was so bloody that it took the rescue service ZAKA hours to clear. ZAKA’s chairman Yehuda Meshi Zahav said: “We carried out our sacred work at the scene for hours, honouring the dead, collecting all human remains and the blood that had been spilt like water.”
He commented: “The most shocking scenes greeted us. A house ready for Shabbat, with the table laid, the food on the hotplate and food and drink on the table for the shalom zachar celebrations in honour of the new grandchild. And everywhere, so much blood of the victims.”
The United Nations and others internationally have condemned the attack, and Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin said that everybody should do so. “This is the time for the whole free world to denounce terror and incitement, and join with the State of Israel in the war against terror and incitement,” he said.
“One who does not denounce terror is a partner to it, and has a hand in the deterioration of the whole region into a needless, bloody war, which no one wants.”
Politicians from across Israel’s political spectrum spoke of their sadness at the attack and condemned the terrorist, who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointedly referred to as a “beast.” Netanyahu said at Sunday’s cabinet meeting: “The members of the government and I share in the terrible grief of the Salomon family. Yosef, Chaya and Elad were murdered by a beast incited by Jew-hatred.”
When the cabinet met raids had already taken place in al-Abed’s village, Kobar, and Netanyahu promised: “The home of the loathsome terrorist will be demolished as soon as possible. We are also taking action against those who incite toward acts of murder and those who praise them.”
NATHAN JEFFAY
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