Tzvika Cohen
Tzvika CohenFrom the family

Tzvika Cohen, the 48-year-old security guard who was attacked by a Palestinian terrorist with an ax in Ma'ale Adumim on Thursday night, underwent surgery at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, but doctors say that his condition is worsening.

He is currently sedated and on a respirator.

He was not armed at the time of the attack. Authorities are still searching for the terrorist.

Cohen lives in Ma'aleh Adumim with his wife and four children. In another three weeks the family intended to celebrate one of the sons' bar mitzvah.

His family is asking for people to pray behalf of Tzvika ben Batya.

In 2000, Cohen's oldest brother Rahamim was stabbed 11 times by a terrorist who entered his cab on the way to Jerusalem. The terrorist was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison.

On Saturday, Arab terrorists continued their attempts to murder Israelis. A 16-year-old tried to stab soldiers near a checkpoint in Beit El and two terrorist tried to carry out a drive-by shooting, also in Ma'aleh Adumim. No one was harmed in either of the other two attacks.

In light of these attacks, authorities have announced that non-essential Palestinian workers will not be allowed into Ma'aleh Adumim until Thursday. Palestinian workers will still be able to enter the industrial area.