IDF troops on an offensive ambush yesterday encountered a terror cell near Tul Karem, east of Netanya. They opened fire, to which the terrorists responded; one of the Arabs was killed and another one was wounded. A second IDF force waiting nearby was called to help them, but one of the forces mistakenly identified the other as "suspicious figures," opened fire, and hit three soldiers. Corp. Tom Dekel was injured the most severely, and died later of his wounds; the other two were hurt moderately and lightly, respectively, and were evacuated to Tel HaShomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.
Corp. Dekel, 20, of Eilat, will be laid to rest this evening at 5 PM in his hometown. His mother, whose husband died ten years ago, recently asked Tom's commander to take him off the front lines, even if just for a short period. "He's been there two years already," she said, "and I can't take the continued worrying." The commander had to refuse her request, saying, "Tom is one of our best soldiers and we can't let him go."
In Kalkilye, east of Raanana, a car bomb being prepared for murderous use against Jews blew up, killing the two or three terrorist occupants.
In other terrorist incidents, two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded early this afternoon when Arabs opened fire at a bus carrying soldiers in the Shomron... A barrage of six mortar shells was fired towards Ganei Tal in Gush Katif this morning; no one was hurt... An IDF force destroyed the homes of two terrorists in Jenin who planned suicide and shooting attacks... Ten wanted terrorists were arrested during the night throughout Judea and Samaria, including two armed Arabs south of Hevron and five terrorists near Ramallah.
Yesterday morning, two Palestinian terrorists were shot and killed as they tried to approach the homes of Moshav Gadid, in southern Gush Katif. Cooperating in the IDF operation were ground troops and Israel Air Force helicopters. One soldier was lightly wounded. Several mortar shells were fired at Gadid and Netzarim over the Sabbath; no one was hurt.
Corp. Dekel, 20, of Eilat, will be laid to rest this evening at 5 PM in his hometown. His mother, whose husband died ten years ago, recently asked Tom's commander to take him off the front lines, even if just for a short period. "He's been there two years already," she said, "and I can't take the continued worrying." The commander had to refuse her request, saying, "Tom is one of our best soldiers and we can't let him go."
In Kalkilye, east of Raanana, a car bomb being prepared for murderous use against Jews blew up, killing the two or three terrorist occupants.
In other terrorist incidents, two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded early this afternoon when Arabs opened fire at a bus carrying soldiers in the Shomron... A barrage of six mortar shells was fired towards Ganei Tal in Gush Katif this morning; no one was hurt... An IDF force destroyed the homes of two terrorists in Jenin who planned suicide and shooting attacks... Ten wanted terrorists were arrested during the night throughout Judea and Samaria, including two armed Arabs south of Hevron and five terrorists near Ramallah.
Yesterday morning, two Palestinian terrorists were shot and killed as they tried to approach the homes of Moshav Gadid, in southern Gush Katif. Cooperating in the IDF operation were ground troops and Israel Air Force helicopters. One soldier was lightly wounded. Several mortar shells were fired at Gadid and Netzarim over the Sabbath; no one was hurt.