Subject: Terrorist shooting update 2
    Date:  Tue, 27 Mar 2001 01:22:34 +0200
   From:  Hebron <[email protected]>
      To: [email protected]
 

News from Hebron
The Hebron Press Office
March 27, 2000
1:00 am
 
 

Jewish Children
as Sniper's Targets

 
The Pass family, following discussions with Rabbis and other officials, have decided to delay the funeral of their daughter Shalhevet, who was killed by sniper gunfire earlier in the afternoon, until the Israeli army recaptures the Shalhevet (formerly Abu Sneneh) hills. They said that they hope that their decision will help prevent additional funerals. Their daughter, Shalhevet, was murdered when a sniper shot at the Pass family from these hills, abandoned to Arafat four years ago.

It was learned that during the shooting attack, two little girls miraculously were not injured when a bullet passed between them. The two sisters, Ayelet aged 4 and Shikma Bar Cochva aged six, were playing in the sandbox in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Shikma came home with a huge hole in her shirt, which was torn by the sniper's bullet.

The Israeli security forces have began taking preventative measures against Jews in Hebron. Reports have been received that an army roadblock has been set up at the Gush Etzion junction, about 25 minutes north of Hebron. There, police are checking Jewish ID cards, and preventing anyone not a  resident of the Hebron area from continuing south. Also, a roadblock was established by Beit Hadassah in Hebron, where Israeli vehicles are being prevented from travelling to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, two minutes away.

Hebron residents expressed their horror at today's events by attempting to reach the Shalhevet (formerly Abu Sneneh) hills, where Arab gunfire has been directed at the Jewish neighborhood over the past seven months. Israeli soldiers prevented them from reaching their destination. According to Israeli radio reports, the army issued instructions to Arab residents on the Shalhevet hills to leave their homes, in expectation of an Israeli response to the terrorist killing. Such instructions have been issued in the past, with little to show for them.

Hebron leaders participated in a meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tonight, together with other Yesha leaders, at this Jerusalem office. A Yesha spokesman issued the following statement:

"The Prime Minister emphasized and promised that the difficult security situation in Yesha will not continue and will be changed from the roots. The Prime Minister praised the Yesha residents, in the face of Arab terror."

A Hebron spokesman said that he is not interested in hearing praise from the Prime Minister. "We are not interested in promises. The only thing which will satisfy us is action, action which will put a total halt to the shooting and bloodshed. The Israeli army has the means to clean out Arafat's terror nest. It is time to stop talking and to start doing. Fast, before more innocent blood is spilled.