Three Israelis were murdered in the past 24 hours in separate Palestiniain terrorist attacks. Security sources said that the close timing of the three attacks has no significance, and that this was merely "coincidental."
Shortly before 5 PM today, a suicide terrorist blew himself up as police approached him. The blast wounded three people, including a policeman who died of his wounds shortly afterwards, and a police vehicle was heavily damaged. An eyewitness named Ziyad said the explosion occurred as the policeman approached two Arabs at a bus stop. Police now assume that the dead officer was in effect a hero, in that his alertness prevented the bomber from blowing himself up inside a public bus in accordance with his plans.
Earlier in the afternoon, Yosef Ajmi, a 36-year-old father of four from Jerusalem, was murdered by terrorist gunfire in the northern Shomron near Mevo Dotan, less than five kilometers south of Um el Fahm. At least one emergency rescue team arrIved on the scene within seconds, and treated a wounded victim - a foreign worker in the employ of the dead man - as the terrorists continued shooting. Security officials reported that a vehicle bearing PA license plates near the site contained IDF uniforms, flak jackets and ammunition. The Al Aqsa Brigades of Fatah accepted responsibility for the attack.
The bad news began early this morning, with the discovery of the charred and badly mutilated body of 67-year-old Ma’aleh Adumim resident David Buchbut in the Arab village of El-Azaria, just east of Jerusalem. The victim’s family reported him missing last night when he failed to return from a trip to the village - under Israeli security control, but PA administrative control - for building supplies. His son Avraham told Arutz-7 today that Arab workers were working on his house, "but we were relieved that the agreement was that they would buy all the supplies, and my father said that he would not buy any of the supplies himself in any Arab area. We have no explanation as to why he went there." Police reported that several Arabs apparently abducted him after he arrived in El-Azariya and tortured him for a long while before killing him.
There was yet another roadside shooting attack this afternoon in the Shomron, between Shavei Shomron and Einav. No one was hurt, but a vehicle was damaged.
Tourism Minister-designate Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) said today that the wave of attacks puts the lie to hints by Foreign Minister Peres of "a new spirit" coming over the Palestinian Authority.
Shortly before 5 PM today, a suicide terrorist blew himself up as police approached him. The blast wounded three people, including a policeman who died of his wounds shortly afterwards, and a police vehicle was heavily damaged. An eyewitness named Ziyad said the explosion occurred as the policeman approached two Arabs at a bus stop. Police now assume that the dead officer was in effect a hero, in that his alertness prevented the bomber from blowing himself up inside a public bus in accordance with his plans.
Earlier in the afternoon, Yosef Ajmi, a 36-year-old father of four from Jerusalem, was murdered by terrorist gunfire in the northern Shomron near Mevo Dotan, less than five kilometers south of Um el Fahm. At least one emergency rescue team arrIved on the scene within seconds, and treated a wounded victim - a foreign worker in the employ of the dead man - as the terrorists continued shooting. Security officials reported that a vehicle bearing PA license plates near the site contained IDF uniforms, flak jackets and ammunition. The Al Aqsa Brigades of Fatah accepted responsibility for the attack.
The bad news began early this morning, with the discovery of the charred and badly mutilated body of 67-year-old Ma’aleh Adumim resident David Buchbut in the Arab village of El-Azaria, just east of Jerusalem. The victim’s family reported him missing last night when he failed to return from a trip to the village - under Israeli security control, but PA administrative control - for building supplies. His son Avraham told Arutz-7 today that Arab workers were working on his house, "but we were relieved that the agreement was that they would buy all the supplies, and my father said that he would not buy any of the supplies himself in any Arab area. We have no explanation as to why he went there." Police reported that several Arabs apparently abducted him after he arrived in El-Azariya and tortured him for a long while before killing him.
There was yet another roadside shooting attack this afternoon in the Shomron, between Shavei Shomron and Einav. No one was hurt, but a vehicle was damaged.
Tourism Minister-designate Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) said today that the wave of attacks puts the lie to hints by Foreign Minister Peres of "a new spirit" coming over the Palestinian Authority.