15 Kislev 5762 03:31
Friday November 30, 2001
Soldier slain,
second wounded in shooting
By Margot Dudkevitch
JERUSALEM (November 30) - Palestinians riding in a
car with Israeli license plates shot and fatally wounded
one IDF soldier and wounded another as they stood at a
roadblock in Baka a-Sharkiya, north of Tulkarm,
inspecting vehicles early yesterday evening. The attackers
fled toward Tulkarm.
The soldiers were deployed some 500 meters inside the
town, which is located in Area C, under sole Israeli
control. Magen David Adom ambulance teams treated
the two, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
St.-Sgt. Yaron Pikholtz, 20, of Ramat Gan, was fatally
wounded by three bullets and lost a large amount of
blood. He died in a helicopter as he was being airlifted to
Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera.
The second soldier, who suffered moderate-to-serious
wounds after being shot in the thigh and shoulder, was
taken by ambulance to the same hospital.
Last night, Danny Tsabari, of Moshav Hamra in the
northern Jordan Valley, was lightly wounded when
terrorists shot at his car at the entrance to the community.
He was treated on the scene by Magen David Adom
medics.
The attacks occurred as security forces were placed on
high alert in the North and South from the early morning
after warnings were received of plans by terrorists to
carry out attacks inside Israel hours before Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon was to leave for the US.
In the Sharon district and along the Green Line security
forces set up roadblocks on the main highways and roads
in an attempt to prevent terrorists from crossing into
Israel.
In Beersheba and the surrounding districts police and
soldiers were deployed in malls, markets, and bus and
train stations. In addition, roadblocks were set up on
roads leading to and from the city.
In Hebron, security forces reinforced their presence
around the city and nearby villages after warnings were
received of plans by terrorists to perpetrate an attack in
the area.
Since Hamas fugitive Mahmoud Abu Hanoud was killed
by Israel last week, extremist terrorist organizations such
as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, and the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine issued leaflets vowing to attack
Israeli targets to avenge his death.
Gaza Strip
* Last night Palestinians fired anti-tank grenades and fired
light weapons at IDF posts near Neveh Dekalim and
Ganei Tal in Gush Katif. Soldiers returned fire.
* Palestinians fired a mortar shell at an Israeli community
in central Gush Katif.
* In the afternoon a large bomb exploded in an empty
tent on the outskirts of Khan Yunis near Neveh Dekalim.
The IDF Spokesman said it was not the first time that
Palestinians planted bombs in tents in the area in order to
harm IDF soldiers.
* In the morning Palestinians fired three anti-tank
grenades at the Neveh Dekalim industrial zone. One of
the grenades damaged one of the factories in the
complex.
West Bank
* An Israeli motorist was lightly wounded after stones
were thrown at his car south of Harmalah village near
Gush Etzion.
* Shots were fired at the community of Homesh from the
direction of Silat a-Daher. Earlier, shots were fired at an
IDF vehicle in the same area.
* Palestinians in Jenin fired shots at an IDF patrol south
of Kadim and at an IDF unit near Zita.
* Palestinians in El Khader fired shots at an IDF post
near the Bethlehem bypass (tunnel) road.
* Earlier, Palestinians in Kalil fired shots at the community
of Bracha.
* Shots were also fired at an IDF post at Efrat's Givat
Hadagan. Bullets hit the post, but no one was wounded.
* Judea and Samaria police yesterday detained four
residents of Shvut Rahel who are suspected of harassing
Palestinians who live in the area and damaging their
property.
In recent months there have been a number of clashes
between Jewish residents and Palestinians who tend their
fields in the area. In one incident a Palestinian farmer was
allegedly shot by Israeli residents. |