Six soldiers were murdered last night in a well-planned operation against an isolated outpost northwest of Ramallah. Eight soldiers had just come on duty at the Ein Arik Checkpoint near Talmon when the Arabs - probably three in number - began their fatal attack. They first shot from close range at the four soldiers manning the post, who were killed immediately. They then entered the nearby caravan in which three other soldiers were resting and sprayed it with bullets. The shots caused serious injuries to one of the soldiers - he is now listed in moderate condition - and the two others were killed. The eighth soldier, positioned on the roof of the building, returned fire; one of the other soldiers may also have shot at the killers.
Investigators found that all six fatalities were hit in the head from close range. The Arabs took the weapons of two soldiers, but left behind one of their own rifles - a possible indication that one of the gunmen was hit. The IDF has already decided on new regulations for the checkpoints, replacing some of them with mobile posts and adding manpower to others. Fatah, under the direct responsibility of Yasser Arafat, took responsibility for this attack and a string of failed and successful suicide bombing and shooting attacks since last week. Seventeen Israelis have been murdered in less than six days, 24 since the beginning of February, and 100 in the past four months.
The soldiers killed last night were:
* Sgt. Benny Kikis, 20, from Carmiel.
* Sgt. Mark Podolsky, 20, from Tel Aviv.
* Sgt. Erez Turgeman, 20, from Jerusalem.
* Sgt. Tamir Atzmi, 21, from Kiryat Ono.
* Lt. Moshe Eini, 21, from Petach Tikvah.
* Sgt. Michael Oksman, 21, from Haifa.
The first four were buried today.
The father of Sgt. Tamir Atzmi said with great sorrow today, \"He was to complete his army service in four months\' time, and we had already begun planning his future. All this was cut off in one moment with a knock on the door and the announcement of the bitter news.\"
Investigators found that all six fatalities were hit in the head from close range. The Arabs took the weapons of two soldiers, but left behind one of their own rifles - a possible indication that one of the gunmen was hit. The IDF has already decided on new regulations for the checkpoints, replacing some of them with mobile posts and adding manpower to others. Fatah, under the direct responsibility of Yasser Arafat, took responsibility for this attack and a string of failed and successful suicide bombing and shooting attacks since last week. Seventeen Israelis have been murdered in less than six days, 24 since the beginning of February, and 100 in the past four months.
The soldiers killed last night were:
* Sgt. Benny Kikis, 20, from Carmiel.
* Sgt. Mark Podolsky, 20, from Tel Aviv.
* Sgt. Erez Turgeman, 20, from Jerusalem.
* Sgt. Tamir Atzmi, 21, from Kiryat Ono.
* Lt. Moshe Eini, 21, from Petach Tikvah.
* Sgt. Michael Oksman, 21, from Haifa.
The first four were buried today.
The father of Sgt. Tamir Atzmi said with great sorrow today, \"He was to complete his army service in four months\' time, and we had already begun planning his future. All this was cut off in one moment with a knock on the door and the announcement of the bitter news.\"