Eight Killed In Terrorist Attack Bus Crash
St.-Sgt. Ophir Megidish, age 20, from Kiryat Malachi
St.-Sgt. David Iluz, 21, Kiryat Malachi
Corp. Alexander Menevitch, 18, Ashkelon
Sgt. Julie Veiner, 21, Jerusalem and Kibbutz Zikkim
Corp. Yasmin Krisi, 18, Ashkelon
Sgt. Rachel Levy, 19, Ashkelon
Sgt. Kokhava Polonsky, 19, Ashkelon
Simcha Shetreet, 30, from Rishon Letzion
These are the victims of this morning\'s Palestinian terrorist attack in Azor, near Holon - three male soldiers, four women soldiers, and a female civilian. The terrorist, employed by the Egged bus company for the last five years as a driver transporting Arab workers to and from the Gaza Strip, plowed his bus into a crowded bus stop at the Tempo Junction outside Holon shortly before 8 AM this morning. Some 25 others were wounded, including three women soldiers in critical condition in Tel HaShomer Hospital.
After crashing into the crowd, the bus continued southwards towards Ashdod, followed by police vans shooting and chasing after it. The driver was finally caught in Gan Yavneh, after he crashed into a truck; the truckdriver jumped out safely just in time. The terrorist was taken in serious condition to a nearby hospital, and was still unconscious in the late afternoon hours. Preliminary checks found that he has no connection with any terrorist organization or with the Fatah/Hizbullah leader killed by Israeli forces yesterday.
In response, the government imposed a total closure on the Arabs of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Palestinian airport in Gaza has been closed, as well as Palestinian international border crossings. It was also decided to rescind all VIP cards issued by Israel to Palestinian officials, thus preventing them from travelling within Israel and from Gaza to Judea/Samaria.
DebkaFile reports that Israeli security leaders concluded before today that they will have to re-occupy parts of Beit Jala and Al Hader, the Palestinian Authority villages from whence shooting has repeatedly originated onto Gilo and the Tunnels Highway. Other sources report that Sharon is planning measures against the PA leadership, including limiting Arafat\'s freedom of movement, encouraging the PA to replace him, and assassinating leaders of the violence.
St.-Sgt. Ophir Megidish, age 20, from Kiryat Malachi
St.-Sgt. David Iluz, 21, Kiryat Malachi
Corp. Alexander Menevitch, 18, Ashkelon
Sgt. Julie Veiner, 21, Jerusalem and Kibbutz Zikkim
Corp. Yasmin Krisi, 18, Ashkelon
Sgt. Rachel Levy, 19, Ashkelon
Sgt. Kokhava Polonsky, 19, Ashkelon
Simcha Shetreet, 30, from Rishon Letzion
These are the victims of this morning\'s Palestinian terrorist attack in Azor, near Holon - three male soldiers, four women soldiers, and a female civilian. The terrorist, employed by the Egged bus company for the last five years as a driver transporting Arab workers to and from the Gaza Strip, plowed his bus into a crowded bus stop at the Tempo Junction outside Holon shortly before 8 AM this morning. Some 25 others were wounded, including three women soldiers in critical condition in Tel HaShomer Hospital.
After crashing into the crowd, the bus continued southwards towards Ashdod, followed by police vans shooting and chasing after it. The driver was finally caught in Gan Yavneh, after he crashed into a truck; the truckdriver jumped out safely just in time. The terrorist was taken in serious condition to a nearby hospital, and was still unconscious in the late afternoon hours. Preliminary checks found that he has no connection with any terrorist organization or with the Fatah/Hizbullah leader killed by Israeli forces yesterday.
In response, the government imposed a total closure on the Arabs of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Palestinian airport in Gaza has been closed, as well as Palestinian international border crossings. It was also decided to rescind all VIP cards issued by Israel to Palestinian officials, thus preventing them from travelling within Israel and from Gaza to Judea/Samaria.
DebkaFile reports that Israeli security leaders concluded before today that they will have to re-occupy parts of Beit Jala and Al Hader, the Palestinian Authority villages from whence shooting has repeatedly originated onto Gilo and the Tunnels Highway. Other sources report that Sharon is planning measures against the PA leadership, including limiting Arafat\'s freedom of movement, encouraging the PA to replace him, and assassinating leaders of the violence.