Haviv Dadon, a 16-year-old youth in the northern town of Shlomi, was killed today and four youths were wounded by a volley of seven Hizbullah mortar shells. Three were treated briefly in a nearby hospital, while the other sustained serious wounds in his leg. The shells hit an empty nursery in a residential area as well as a crowded street. Seven others, including an elderly couple who live next door to the nursery, were treated for shock.
In response, the Israel Air Force attacked anti-aircraft artillery in the western sector of southern Lebanon this afternoon. The target was apparently the source of today's Hizbullah attack against Shlomi.
Dozens of family friends arrived at the Dadon home when word of Haviv's death became known. "He was a boy whom the whole neighborhood loved," his mother Miriam said. "Who will return my flower to me?" His father Chananyah, who recently underwent a kidney transplant, passed out when he heard what had occurred, and was treated briefly in the hospital. Haviv, who is also survived by five older siblings, will be buried at 8 PM in Shlomi.
Haviv was the first Israeli to have been killed by a shelling attack at Israeli civilian targets in several years. Seven soldiers have been killed by Hizbullah terrorists since the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. In addition, five civilians and an IDF officer were murdered when Hizbullah terrorists infiltrated Israel outside Kibbutz Metzubah in March 2002.
MK Yuval Shteinitz, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman, took a relatively extreme stance: "Israel must threaten Syria with all-out war," he said today. Likud MK Ehud Yatom, speaking with Arutz-7 today, said that restraint is not always a component of strength. He said that we need not wage all-out war, and that in any event, "we're talking about our army against their terrorist organization, such that we have the advantage." Maalot Mayor Shlomo Buchbut said that deterrence means not only threatening but also actions.
Earlier this morning, Israel submitted an official protest in the United Nations against Hizbullah's recent attacks. Today was the third consecutive day of attacks by the terrorists in Lebanon against Israel. They fired numerous volleys of mortar shells towards various Israeli locations yesterday and the day before. Shrapnel hit two homes in Kiryat Shmonah yesterday, and two residents were treated for shock.
In its official protest, Israel warned Lebanon and Syria that if they do not restrain the Hizbullah terrorists, Israel would be forced to take action to protect its citizens. Lebanese and Syrian officials justified the Hizbullah attack, and one of them even said that the fact that Israel is protesting to the UN is evidence that Israel cannot take military action.
The last time Israel protested to the United Nations was following the double terrorist attack in Kenya last November.
In response, the Israel Air Force attacked anti-aircraft artillery in the western sector of southern Lebanon this afternoon. The target was apparently the source of today's Hizbullah attack against Shlomi.
Dozens of family friends arrived at the Dadon home when word of Haviv's death became known. "He was a boy whom the whole neighborhood loved," his mother Miriam said. "Who will return my flower to me?" His father Chananyah, who recently underwent a kidney transplant, passed out when he heard what had occurred, and was treated briefly in the hospital. Haviv, who is also survived by five older siblings, will be buried at 8 PM in Shlomi.
Haviv was the first Israeli to have been killed by a shelling attack at Israeli civilian targets in several years. Seven soldiers have been killed by Hizbullah terrorists since the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. In addition, five civilians and an IDF officer were murdered when Hizbullah terrorists infiltrated Israel outside Kibbutz Metzubah in March 2002.
MK Yuval Shteinitz, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman, took a relatively extreme stance: "Israel must threaten Syria with all-out war," he said today. Likud MK Ehud Yatom, speaking with Arutz-7 today, said that restraint is not always a component of strength. He said that we need not wage all-out war, and that in any event, "we're talking about our army against their terrorist organization, such that we have the advantage." Maalot Mayor Shlomo Buchbut said that deterrence means not only threatening but also actions.
Earlier this morning, Israel submitted an official protest in the United Nations against Hizbullah's recent attacks. Today was the third consecutive day of attacks by the terrorists in Lebanon against Israel. They fired numerous volleys of mortar shells towards various Israeli locations yesterday and the day before. Shrapnel hit two homes in Kiryat Shmonah yesterday, and two residents were treated for shock.
In its official protest, Israel warned Lebanon and Syria that if they do not restrain the Hizbullah terrorists, Israel would be forced to take action to protect its citizens. Lebanese and Syrian officials justified the Hizbullah attack, and one of them even said that the fact that Israel is protesting to the UN is evidence that Israel cannot take military action.
The last time Israel protested to the United Nations was following the double terrorist attack in Kenya last November.