Seven Breslover Hassidim were wounded very early this morning in a terrorist shooting attack. It occurred as they were leaving the site of Joseph's Tomb in Shechem. Two of the victims - Moshe ben [son of] Esther and Nachman ben Frieda - are in serious condition or worse, and are undergoing emergency surgery in Tel HaShomer Hospital.
Shortly after 4 AM, a group of 16 Breslover worshipers departed the holy site and were about to set off for home when the shots rang out. Large army forces arrived on the scene to search for and pursue the terrorists. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to two Tel Aviv-area hospitals.
The Al-Aqsa Brigades of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Islamic Jihad also issued a statement implying its involvement in the attempted murders.
Army sources were quick to note that the group did not have permission to enter the area. The Hassidim, for their part, have long maintained that Joseph's Tomb is in Israeli-controlled area, according to the terms of the Oslo Accords, and that it is the army's responsibility to ensure the safety of Jews who wish to pray there. Kol Rina News Agency reports that the army has shown willingness to arrange "visiting hours" for Jewish worshipers, but that Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has not agreed.
The police arrested the nine Hassidim who were not wounded.
Shortly after 4 AM, a group of 16 Breslover worshipers departed the holy site and were about to set off for home when the shots rang out. Large army forces arrived on the scene to search for and pursue the terrorists. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to two Tel Aviv-area hospitals.
The Al-Aqsa Brigades of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Islamic Jihad also issued a statement implying its involvement in the attempted murders.
Army sources were quick to note that the group did not have permission to enter the area. The Hassidim, for their part, have long maintained that Joseph's Tomb is in Israeli-controlled area, according to the terms of the Oslo Accords, and that it is the army's responsibility to ensure the safety of Jews who wish to pray there. Kol Rina News Agency reports that the army has shown willingness to arrange "visiting hours" for Jewish worshipers, but that Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has not agreed.
The police arrested the nine Hassidim who were not wounded.