Two of the three casualties from yesterday\'s tragic attack in Karmei Tzur were laid to rest at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem this morning. They were St. Sgt. Eyal Sorek, 23, and his wife Yael, 24. Yael was nine-months\' pregnant with their first child. Maj. (res.) Shalom Mordechai, 35, of Nahariyah was also killed in the incident while taking part in the mini-battle against the two terrorists, and he will be buried this afternoon. One of the murderers, who infiltrated the southern Gush Etzion community dressed as IDF soldiers, was killed, while the second escaped.
The attacked occurred shortly before 3 AM when the two Palestinian murderers entered the new Tzur Shalom neighborhood of Karmei Tzur - named for Dr. Shmuel Gillis of Karmei Tzur who was murdered over a year ago by a terrorists - and began firing at residents sleeping in their caravans (mobile homes without wheels). The M-16 and Kalashnikov assault rifle gunfire easily penetrated the corrugated walls of the homes, although Eyal Sorek, an elite unit combat fighter, was killed while trying to fire back. One of the terrorists was finally felled by the commander of the IDF reserve unit, but not before the three Israelis were killed and five others wounded. The It was reported that the commander later found three bullet holes in his uniform and helmet, one of which grazed his head.
The second Arab fled to the nearby PLO-controlled town of Halhoul. Troops then entered Halhoul and conducted a house-to-house search for the second suspect and took several Arabs in for questioning. After finding many grenades and much ammunition on the body of the dead terrorist, army sources said that though the attack was grave, it could have been far worse.
Yael, nee Kandel, grew up in Kfar Pines, and was studying to be a math teacher. She was due to give birth in a matter of days. Her father was informed of the tragedy yesterday morning, but did not tell his wife or family until after the Sabbath had ended. Eyal was to be discharged from the army this week. They are the 14th husband-and-wife couple to be murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the 20-month-old Oslo War. Shalom Mordechai is survived by his wife, 9-year-old son Shaked and 5-year-old son Ro\'i.
The attacked occurred shortly before 3 AM when the two Palestinian murderers entered the new Tzur Shalom neighborhood of Karmei Tzur - named for Dr. Shmuel Gillis of Karmei Tzur who was murdered over a year ago by a terrorists - and began firing at residents sleeping in their caravans (mobile homes without wheels). The M-16 and Kalashnikov assault rifle gunfire easily penetrated the corrugated walls of the homes, although Eyal Sorek, an elite unit combat fighter, was killed while trying to fire back. One of the terrorists was finally felled by the commander of the IDF reserve unit, but not before the three Israelis were killed and five others wounded. The It was reported that the commander later found three bullet holes in his uniform and helmet, one of which grazed his head.
The second Arab fled to the nearby PLO-controlled town of Halhoul. Troops then entered Halhoul and conducted a house-to-house search for the second suspect and took several Arabs in for questioning. After finding many grenades and much ammunition on the body of the dead terrorist, army sources said that though the attack was grave, it could have been far worse.
Yael, nee Kandel, grew up in Kfar Pines, and was studying to be a math teacher. She was due to give birth in a matter of days. Her father was informed of the tragedy yesterday morning, but did not tell his wife or family until after the Sabbath had ended. Eyal was to be discharged from the army this week. They are the 14th husband-and-wife couple to be murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the 20-month-old Oslo War. Shalom Mordechai is survived by his wife, 9-year-old son Shaked and 5-year-old son Ro\'i.