Michal Salomon, the wife of Elad Salomon, one of those murdered in the horrific terror attack in Neve Tzuf (Halamish) on Friday night, recounted the terrifying moments when her husband, his sister Haya, and their father, Yosef, were murdered.
Michal and Elad had come with their 5 children to Neve Tzuf to spend Shabbat (the Sabbath) with Elad’s parents, Tova and Yosef, who were celebrating the birth of a new grandson with family and friends from the community.
While most of the people remained in the kitchen at the end of the Shabbat meal, Michal had moved to the living room to prepare for the “Shalom Zachor” celebration in honor of the birth of the newest grandson.
Michal related in an interview with Yediot Aharonot: “I saw the profile of a person ploughing towards the kitchen. The terrorist, apparently, saw them through the window and entered the house. He didn’t see me, and came directly at them. I heard him ask them in Arabic: ‘What’s your name?’ and I immediately understood that something wasn’t right. That something bad was happening.”
“I immediately took the 3 kids upstairs, where [the two youngest children] the twins were sleeping. It was important that I, first of all, protect the children no matter what. I started to hear shouts and screams. I held the door with all of my strength, because it wasn’t locked. I lost my sense of time, but I didn’t let go of the doorknob.
“I called the Police and told them what was happening as my children surrounded me. I heard terrible screams and shots, and after a period which seemed endless, I understood that it was over. I came downstairs and saw Elad. I understood that my husband was no longer alive.”
Yosef (71), Haya (46), and Elad (36) Salomon are to be laid to rest today at the Modiin Cemetery at 5:30 pm.