'Father saved us,' says daughter wounded in settlement [terror] attack

Haaretz ^ | 04/04/2004 | Tsahar Rotem

[yonif]

When the terrorist came to the Zaga family house in the West Bank settlement of Avnei Hefetz late Friday night, parents Kobi and Esther (Estella) were already asleep. Their daughters were still awake, chatting away in one of the rooms.

"Suddenly, the terrorist knocked on the shutters," says 14-year-old Hani, who was moderately wounded in the attack. She and her sister hurried to wake up their father. He quickly dressed, grabbed his weapon and went out. Esther says that he did not have time to put on his flak jacket.

The rest of the family hid around the house. Hani recalls that "mother said 'quick, get into the shelter.' I went to my parents' room to get my 3.5-year-old sister, Tahiya.

"The gunman tried to get into the house and opened fire," she continues. Two bullets hit her in the pelvis. Her toddler sister was not wounded. "At first, I tried to keep running, with Tahiya in my arms, but I couldn't carry on, so we crawled together toward the shelter."

They managed to join their two other sisters in the strong room. Two of the other children were hiding with their mother in another room. "I knew that four of the children were in the shelter, but I did not know that Hannie was wounded ... There were shots all the time. I understood that if the terrorist was still shooting, it was a sign that my husband had not managed to stop him. I was worried about him. After a few minutes, I went out to get my cellular telephone to call for help."

Hani says that if her father had not gone out to face the gunman, "we might not be alive. He saved us."

Kobi spent Friday night playing with his children. Nissim, his 5-year-old son, says that they had "crazy fun" laughing and singing.

Kobi, 40, was an internal inspector for Bank Mizrahi. His wife Esther, who immigrated to Israel 14 years ago from Argentina, is a psychologist employed by the Samaria local council. They were both among the founding members of the settlements, near Tul Karm, and Kobi was part of the settlement's security team.

The settlement was established some 14 years ago and is currently home to 180 families. Another 20 are due to join the settlement in the summer.

Kobi Zaga will be laid to rest on Sunday afternoon at the Petah Tikva cemetery.

[yonif]

Kobi Zaga, who was killed in a terror attack on Friday night, with his family. (Reproduction: Guy Raivitz

[yonif]

Ping.

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[Iris7]

I was reading your story about Mr. Kobi Zaga with approval in my heart for a good man doing his duty.

That Mr. Zaga died doing his duty is not surprising, but I hate it, hate it, hate it, when a good man is killed. His family have my prayers.

[Begin]

How sickening. Compare Zaga's selfless act of protecting his family with those of the islamofascists, who routinely send their offspring to blow themselves up.

[wretchard]

"How sickening. Compare Zaga's selfless act of protecting his family with those of the islamofascists, who routinely send their offspring to blow themselves up."

That's why they are who they are and we are who we are.

[Aracelis]

How sickening. Compare Zaga's selfless act of protecting his family with those of the islamofascists, who routinely send their offspring to blow themselves up.

God sees...He knows who among us truly love and care for the children we are blessed with. Ultimately, all murderers such as these terrorists will be punished.

[tiamat]

What a GOOD Father!

SO sad!

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[xJones]

'Father saved us,' says daughter wounded in settlement [terror] attack

And the brave Palestinian fathers send their daughters out to attack....

[af_vet_1981]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

• Magnified and sanctified be His great name in the world which He hath created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
• Let His great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity. Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He; though He be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
• May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
• He who maketh peace in his high places, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Why do people still think the vermin are "oppressed people fighting for their land"?

[Victoria Delsoul]

What a heartbreaking story. This is no way to live a life.

[tet68]

May there be abundant peace from Heaven,
and life upon us and upon all Israel.
Amen.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Amen.

[BayouCoyote]

There is a man I will always admire for defending his family. My God bless his family.

[LucyJo]

I'm typing this with tears in my eyes, and a prayer in my heart for this brave man's family. It angers me. I believe this is what we could be facing in this country today if George W. Bush had not been elected in 2000. We could face it yet, and worse, if the Dems continue to embolden terrorists by attempting to undermine our president in time of war.