(Updated Monday, 7:30 AM) IsraelNN.com - At approximately 11:40 last night, an Arab terrorist infiltrated Kibbutz Metzer, located 30 miles northeast of Tel Aviv. While there are still conflicting reports as to how the chain of events unfolded, a member of the Kibbutz's first response team said that the terrorist first entered a lit house and pumped bullets into a 4 and 5-year-old brother and sister and their mother killing them. The mother had just spoken to relatives in Caesaria a few moments before.
The Arab left the house and shot at a couple walking on a nearby path. Tamar Damari, 42, was murdered from these rounds while her friend managed to escape. The Head of the kibbutz, upon hearing the gunfire, came to assist and apparently fired several shots at the terrorist. But the Arab returned fire and killed him. The terrorist then fled into the farm area of the Kibbutz where it was very dark. A manhunt was launched which included a search from structure to structure, but the terrorist was not found.
Shortly after gunfire was heard, residents were instructed to remain indoors in a total black out, out of concern that the terrorist might lock himself into a home and take hostages. The Kibbutz residents remained indoors until after 7 AM when border police announced with certainty that the Arab is no longer in the vicinity of the Kibbutz. Neighboring communities were instructed to remain on high alert.
Security on the kibbutz relates that the terrorist was identified and shots were fired in his direction. It is not clear if he was injured. Large numbers of police, border police and IDF forces combed the area overnight, utilizing search flares and helicopters in the attempt to uncover the terrorist.
Kibbutz Metzer was established in the early 1950's by Jewish immigrants from South America. Menashe Regional Council Head Ilan Sadeh says that the Kibbutz has held over the years "extraordinary relations with the local Arabs, wonderful neighborly relations." He said that they used to play soccer together and carry on numerous joint activities to promote co-existence with the Arabs. The Kibbutz recently offered to give up some of its own lands so that the construction of a security separation fence would not encroach upon neighboring Arab-cultivated land. Since the outbreak of the Oslo War in Sept. 2000, contact between the Jewish and Arab residents has diminished.
The Arab left the house and shot at a couple walking on a nearby path. Tamar Damari, 42, was murdered from these rounds while her friend managed to escape. The Head of the kibbutz, upon hearing the gunfire, came to assist and apparently fired several shots at the terrorist. But the Arab returned fire and killed him. The terrorist then fled into the farm area of the Kibbutz where it was very dark. A manhunt was launched which included a search from structure to structure, but the terrorist was not found.
Shortly after gunfire was heard, residents were instructed to remain indoors in a total black out, out of concern that the terrorist might lock himself into a home and take hostages. The Kibbutz residents remained indoors until after 7 AM when border police announced with certainty that the Arab is no longer in the vicinity of the Kibbutz. Neighboring communities were instructed to remain on high alert.
Security on the kibbutz relates that the terrorist was identified and shots were fired in his direction. It is not clear if he was injured. Large numbers of police, border police and IDF forces combed the area overnight, utilizing search flares and helicopters in the attempt to uncover the terrorist.
Kibbutz Metzer was established in the early 1950's by Jewish immigrants from South America. Menashe Regional Council Head Ilan Sadeh says that the Kibbutz has held over the years "extraordinary relations with the local Arabs, wonderful neighborly relations." He said that they used to play soccer together and carry on numerous joint activities to promote co-existence with the Arabs. The Kibbutz recently offered to give up some of its own lands so that the construction of a security separation fence would not encroach upon neighboring Arab-cultivated land. Since the outbreak of the Oslo War in Sept. 2000, contact between the Jewish and Arab residents has diminished.