Nine people are still hospitalized after an Arab terrorist ran them over on Monday night in Jerusalem. A young yeshiva high school graduate shot and killed him.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi phoned a young officer, Lt. Elad Amar, on Tuesday and congratulated him on his quick thinking in shooting a terrorist to death. "As Chief of Staff, I am proud of you," Ashkenazi said. "You acted properly as a soldier and officer of the IDF. Your professional and quick response brought the incident to a swift and correct end."
Another Religious Hero
Amar, 23, married and the father of two, lives in Kiryat Motzkin, near Haifa. Sporting a knitted kippah (yarmulke), he is a graduate of the Pirchei Aharon yeshiva high school, the same school in which abducted-and-killed soldier Eldad Regev studied. In the two previous run-down terror attacks in Jerusalem, as well as in the Merkaz HaRav massacre of eight students, the terrorists were also killed by quick-thinking national-religious soldiers or former soldiers.
In addition, earlier this year, the counselors of the Mekor Chaim yeshiva high school in Kfar Etzion were able to overcome and kill two terrorists who came to perpetrate a massacre there.
Car Hits Soldiers, Wall
Amar was leading several dozen soldiers who were on their way to the Western Wall on Monday night. Near Kikar Tzahal (IDF Square), at the end of Jaffa Road leading to the Old City's Jaffa Gate, the BMW-driving terrorist slammed into many of them. "I managed to jump away, but some of my friends were hit," Elad said. The terrorist then hit a wall, "and I was afraid that he might go into reverse and start running them over again. I wanted to stop him, and I fired 11 bullets through the car window."
At that point, a civilian and a policeman joined him, but Elad's job was still not over: "I though the car might be wired with explosives, so I ordered the soldiers who were unhurt to start treating those who were hurt, while staying clear."
Seven soldiers and two female civilians are still hospitalized, including one woman in moderate-to-serious condition and four with light-to-moderate injuries.
Army's Spiritual Activities Will Increase
IDF Chief Rabbi Avi Ronsky told Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine on Tuesday that the pre-Rosh HaShanah educational activities in Jerusalem will continue, and even intensify. "The IDF Chief Rabbinate organizes hundreds of visits whose purpose is to prepare the soldiers and officers for the High Holy Days, and to connect them with the Jewish People's ancient history."
"Our activities are aimed at both religious and non-religious soldiers," Rabbi Ronsky said. "There is tremendous demand, especially in the combat units, for discussions on Judaism in connection with combat spirit and leadership. We are all Jews, and the more you are connected with your roots, the stronger you are."
MK Ariel: Why Are Homes Still Standing?
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said, "The continuing delay in destroying the homes of the eastern Jerusalem terrorists who committed the recent attacks, and the periodic release of terrorists from prison, are what brought about this attack. This is an ongoing failure of Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the justice system."
In the course of 2008, 250 Arabs from eastern Jerusalem have been arrested for hostile terrorist activity - a large increase over previous years.