Posted on 06/28/2006 5:50:22 PM PDT by areafiftyone
The Popular Resistance Committees said early Thursday that it executed 18-year-old Eliyahu Asheri, an Israeli settler kidnapped earlier in the week in the West Bank.
The group, which has links to the ruling Hamas, had threatened to execute the Israeli if Israel did not halt its invasion of Gaza.
Earlier Wednesday, Israel's fears came true Wednesday when a spokesman for the PRC in the Gaza Strip revealed an authentic copy of missing teenager Asheri's identity card to the press, confirming claims that he had been kidnapped.
In an effort to garner information about Asheri's whereabouts, the police's elite counterterrorist squad raided a home in Ramallah in the afternoon and arrested a fugitive. Publication of his identity was barred.
While the PRC gave no indication as to Asheri's well-being, it reiterated an earlier threat to kill him if the IDF did not immediately withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.
A spokesman for the group told Al-Jazeera that Asheri, 18, would be "butchered in front of TV cameras" if the IDF operation in Gaza did not stop. "Our patience is running out," he said.
"I am announcing for the first time that the kidnapped Zionist Israel is searching for is the same settler who is being held by us. He is aged 181⁄2... and is a soldier in a pre-military academy," said the spokesman, who identified himself as Abu Abir.
Eliahu's parents, Miriam and Yitro Asheri, remained in their home in Itamar in the company of friends and army officers. Miriam emerged only once to talk to reporters.
"I hope they'll look after him and treat him as he deserves," she said. "We really request that they return him to us alive." She also requested his captors provide them with "a sign of life."
Asheri's absence was not immediately reported. His disappearance was only noted after he failed to appear for a hike planned by the pre-military academy of Neveh Tsuf, where he had been studying. Rabbi Haim Druckman, Asheri's grandfather, said he first heard of his disappearance Tuesday.
"They saw in the morning that he hadn't arrived, so they started worrying," Druckman said. "The situation was not immediately clear, so security forces requested that no one be notified."
The family was afraid but hopeful, he said, adding, "They're feeling what every person would naturally feel in this situation. They're very worried and afraid, especially now that it's obvious that he was kidnapped."
Despite their worry, he said, "there's great hope that he will return safely... We are helping however we can, and the only way is to pray."
Druckman described Asheri as "a great kid, very responsible, very serious and sensitive... He was at his greatest, blossoming and very happy." Rabbi Avi Ronsky, head of Itamar's yeshiva, said Asheri was a very introverted teenager, who had a tendency to go off on his own. For that reason, the family was not immediately suspicious of his disappearance, he said.
Moshe Goldsmith, the community's secretary, said the family had been briefed by OC Samaria Col. Yuval Bazak, who told them that there were clear signs that Asheri had been kidnapped but that authorities were still unsure of the exact details.
Eliahu is the eldest of five children, and his parents have been living in Itamar since 1991. His father immigrated from Melbourne, Australia. An Australian diplomat based in Ramallah said the Australian embassy had approached the family, offered assistance and had been in contact with the Palestinian Authority, but had no details about Asheri, who does not hold Australian citizenship.
But Asheri's kidnapping did not seem to deter hitchhikers in Samaria. "We're not afraid; we're not going to let them win," said a hitchhiker on his way to the Tapuah junction. "Anyway, waiting for buses takes too long."
BASTARDS!!!
needs repeating.
Sweet looking, good-natured kid. Drop a few MOABs on Hamas headquarters, while you are in town, guys.
My condolences to the heart-broken family.
MOURNER'S KADDISH
An English Translation
Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
I kinda had a feeling when the Palestinian held up Eliyahu's ID card today that he was dead but I was praying I was wrong. I can't believe they would kill this kid. THEY ARE ANIMALS!
Prayers to his family. He is no longer suffering at the hands of these animals. He is in heaven with god. :-(
IDF: raze Gaza.
needs repeating.
Needs to be bigger too...
BASTARDS!!!
Aw, no.
I know. I am sitting here crying just looking at his picture.
Those sandroaches need to stop breathing ASAP !!!
The Palestinians are going to regret this.
So this is what "appeasement" has wrought. It made me sick to see Israelis bulldozing their own settlements in Gaza. Can't they see that nothing short of their extermination is going to be acceptable to these monsters??
So a rescue mission turns in to a mission of revenge.
If the kid is dead i dont have a problem with that, Be damned sure you get the ones responsible
Kill every living thing on the Gaza Strip then cover
the god-forsaken lands with radioactive salts.
My dear Israel, it is way past time for action.
It is time to tell the world, "We will not be hindered in our quest to survive...as a nation and as a people."
Restraint, the rest of the world says.
Bullsh!t.
Get it on and get it done...all of it.
May God speed you and watch over you.
He was probably killed right after they snatched him.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.