(Photo: www.hebron.org.il) Following the wounding of two Jewish brothers by terrorist sniper fire last night, the IDF entered PA-controlled areas in Hevron and destroyed two buildings from which the almost non-stop Arab shooting of the past several months originated.
The two brothers, Tzviel and Matanel Meshulam, were standing on their family porch in the Beit Schneerson building in Hevron, adjacent to Beit Hadassah, when suddenly sniper fire rained down upon them from the overlooking Abu Sneineh Hills. Matanel [ben Orna] Meshulam, 21, an IDF soldier, was shot in his hand. He underwent 7.5 hours of emergency surgery during the night, and doctors now feel that after physiotherapy, he should be able to regain 80% of the use of his hand. The same bullet also hit Tzviel Yehuda [ben Orna], 11, in the chest; he is listed in moderate/stable condition after the bullet miraculously missed hitting vital organs.
IDF forces responded a few hours later by moving onto the PA-controlled hilltop, destroying two abandoned buildings that were used to launch the shooting at the Meshulam family and many other shooting attacks. The two houses, which stood out clearly on the horizon atop the hill, were sources of Arab gunfire on Jewish neighborhoods in Hevron for the past year. Pictures before and after may be seen at. One soldier was lightly wounded in the night’s fighting. PA officials report that over a dozen Arabs were wounded by the IDF retaliatory offensive.
Following the IDF mission, the force pulled out of the area under the PA control. It was the first time that Israel had entered PA-controlled Hevron since most of the city was transferred to Arafat in early 1996. Hevron Jewish Community representatives congratulated the army on its mission, but expressed some disappointment that the forces had not remained there. IDF Judea and Samaria Commander Brig.-Gen. Gershon Yitzchak said today that if shooting against the Jewish population of Hevron continues, the IDF will in fact position itself on the Givat Shalhevet (Abu Sneineh) hilltop.
Hevron was quiet this morning. The Yesha Council had criticism for last night\'s limited IDF strike. In a letter to Prime Minister Sharon today, the Council wrote that he did not fulfill his promise after the murder of 10-month-old Shalhevet Pass from Abu Sneineh sniper fire to recapture the hills if the firing persists.
The two brothers, Tzviel and Matanel Meshulam, were standing on their family porch in the Beit Schneerson building in Hevron, adjacent to Beit Hadassah, when suddenly sniper fire rained down upon them from the overlooking Abu Sneineh Hills. Matanel [ben Orna] Meshulam, 21, an IDF soldier, was shot in his hand. He underwent 7.5 hours of emergency surgery during the night, and doctors now feel that after physiotherapy, he should be able to regain 80% of the use of his hand. The same bullet also hit Tzviel Yehuda [ben Orna], 11, in the chest; he is listed in moderate/stable condition after the bullet miraculously missed hitting vital organs.
IDF forces responded a few hours later by moving onto the PA-controlled hilltop, destroying two abandoned buildings that were used to launch the shooting at the Meshulam family and many other shooting attacks. The two houses, which stood out clearly on the horizon atop the hill, were sources of Arab gunfire on Jewish neighborhoods in Hevron for the past year. Pictures before and after may be seen at
Following the IDF mission, the force pulled out of the area under the PA control. It was the first time that Israel had entered PA-controlled Hevron since most of the city was transferred to Arafat in early 1996. Hevron Jewish Community representatives congratulated the army on its mission, but expressed some disappointment that the forces had not remained there. IDF Judea and Samaria Commander Brig.-Gen. Gershon Yitzchak said today that if shooting against the Jewish population of Hevron continues, the IDF will in fact position itself on the Givat Shalhevet (Abu Sneineh) hilltop.
Hevron was quiet this morning. The Yesha Council had criticism for last night\'s limited IDF strike. In a letter to Prime Minister Sharon today, the Council wrote that he did not fulfill his promise after the murder of 10-month-old Shalhevet Pass from Abu Sneineh sniper fire to recapture the hills if the firing persists.