Reaction to terror in Hebron: Keep the show going

Arutz Sheva ^ | 22/9/13 | David Wilder

[Eleutheria5]

It happened again.

In 2002, on the first day of the huge Succot celebrations, early evening, an Arab terrorist opened fire near the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. As a result, Rabbi Shlomo Shapira from Jerusalem was killed.

Fast forward: Succot, September 2013, eleven years later. Almost the same exact time. An Arab terrorist shoots, killing an Israeli soldier, near the “Beit Merkachat” intersection in Hebron. As with Rabbi Shapira, the soldier never really had a chance. A bullet penetrated his neck, leaving an entrance and exit wound. Medical personnel did everything humanly possible. But it wasn’t enough.

Prior to the killing, I could define today as ‘interesting.’ Actually I really don’t know if that’s the right word to use.

Well over 10,000 people arrived in Hebron today, filling Ma’arat HaMachpela, walking the streets, visiting the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, all having a good time. One of the day’s highlights was the opening of the Cave of Otniel ben Knaz to Jewish visitors, an event occurring very few days during the year. This, because the site is located on the ‘Arab’ H1 side of the city.

But on holidays, such as today, the 300 meter walk from the ‘Kikar HaShoter’ checkpoint to the holy site is heavily protected, allowing visitors, escorted by soldiers or police, to view and worship at the cave.

But earlier, prior to its opening, I’d received notification of trouble. A firebomb was hurled at soldiers in the area. Rock-throwing, an almost normal occurrence in Hebron, was starting. But the security forces had the situation under control, and dozens and dozens of people walked back and forth to the place.

Me too. Today was the first day of our special VIP tour.

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[Eleutheria5]

You read this, if you're interested, to find out what happened in Israel. I read this to find out if anyone I know was hurt or involved, having spent a few years in the Hebron area. The soldier's name was Gabriel Kobi, age 20. Don't know him. But here's a related piece.

IDF Soldier Killed by Sniper Fire in Hevron http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172126#.UkE0DoakopU

[hummingbird]

They are not a ‘religion of peace’;they are a cult of death and destruction.

[SJackson]

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