(Sept. 7 – 10:26) IDF Lt. Erez Merhavi, 23, of Moshav Tarum was shot and killed shortly before 7:00pm Thursday night in a drive-by terrorist shooting attack inside pre-’67 Israel near the communities of Kibbutz Bahan and Zemer, not far from the Israeli Arab village of Baka el-Garbiye. IDF Lt. Limor Vishnia, 21, of Kibbutz Ein HaNatziv, remains in moderate condition in an intensive care unit in Hadera’s Hillel Yafeh Hospital. She was shot twice in the neck.
The attack occurred shortly before 7:00pm in an area that has been the site of increasingly frequent attacks over recent weeks. On July 30, border policewoman Chani Abramov was shot in the same area, sustaining serious wounds. On July 4, Eliyahu Ne\'eman, 36, of Petach Tikvah, was killed in a shooting attack near Baka el-Garbiye. He was married and the father of three.
Sharon district Police Chief Aaron Franco explained the location of the latest fatal terrorist shooting attack was inside “Israel proper” on a major north-south vehicular route used by Jews and Israeli Arabs alike. Franco added that security forces due to its proximity to the Green Line heavily patrol the road. As a result of the fatal attack, border police will be increasing patrols in the area.
Commander Franco confirmed reports that the shots were fired from a passing vehicle as the targeted vehicle was traveling northbound. Following the attack, terrorists headed east, towards the PA village of Schweika, north of Tul Karem.
Motorists that saw the attack reported details of the terrorist vehicle to police and GSS (General Security Service – Shin/Bet) agents.
The Tanzim faction of the Fatah terror organization has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack to avenge the afternoon Israel Air Force missile attack against Fatah terrorists in Tul Karem.
Lt. Merhavi will be laid to rest on Friday at 1:00pm in Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl Military Cemetery.
The attack occurred shortly before 7:00pm in an area that has been the site of increasingly frequent attacks over recent weeks. On July 30, border policewoman Chani Abramov was shot in the same area, sustaining serious wounds. On July 4, Eliyahu Ne\'eman, 36, of Petach Tikvah, was killed in a shooting attack near Baka el-Garbiye. He was married and the father of three.
Sharon district Police Chief Aaron Franco explained the location of the latest fatal terrorist shooting attack was inside “Israel proper” on a major north-south vehicular route used by Jews and Israeli Arabs alike. Franco added that security forces due to its proximity to the Green Line heavily patrol the road. As a result of the fatal attack, border police will be increasing patrols in the area.
Commander Franco confirmed reports that the shots were fired from a passing vehicle as the targeted vehicle was traveling northbound. Following the attack, terrorists headed east, towards the PA village of Schweika, north of Tul Karem.
Motorists that saw the attack reported details of the terrorist vehicle to police and GSS (General Security Service – Shin/Bet) agents.
The Tanzim faction of the Fatah terror organization has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack to avenge the afternoon Israel Air Force missile attack against Fatah terrorists in Tul Karem.
Lt. Merhavi will be laid to rest on Friday at 1:00pm in Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl Military Cemetery.