The murder of the four young Israeli soldiers in a terrorist ramming attack in Jerusalem last weekend was widely celebrated by Palestinian Arabs. In several locations throughout Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”), local Palestinians reportedly bought and distributed candies to commemorate the attack.
In Gaza, Hamas issued official statements glorifying the murderous action and sanctifying the attacker, a young Arab man from the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber. Thousands gathered on the streets in celebration. “The message of our Islamic party Hamas is a message of encouragement and support for every jihadi who carries out an attack that puts an end to the acts of the Zionist enemy,” said Hamas leader Fathi Hamad.
The victims of the attack were mostly young female soldiers who were on an educational outing. The terrorist, Fadi Ahmad Al-Qunbar, apparently decided spontaneously to carry out the attack. His sister had nothing but praise for Al-Qunbar’s actions: “Praise be to Allah that he became a martyr. It’s the most beautiful martyrdom.”
The Al-Qunbar family on Monday attempted to erect a mourning tent for their fallen “martyr,” but were stopped by Israeli police. Israeli government officials put the blame squarely on the Palestinian Authority, pointing to ongoing incitement, much of it religious in nature, in the Palestinian education system. “We should have full control over the education system in the east Jerusalem neighborhoods,” demanded Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud).
Let us continue to pray for the victims and loved ones of this horrid attack, as well as pray for the continued safety of all those in Israel.
Originally posted at Israel Today Magazine.
