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December 22, 2000
Israeli driver killed in ambush near Givat Ze'ev
MARGOT DUDKEVITCH,
Itim contributed to this report
Palestinian gunmen lying in ambush at the side of the road shot and killed driving instructor Eli Cohen, 30, last night, spraying his car with automatic gunfire as he drove past Givat Ze'ev on his way home to Modi'in.
Security officials initially believed Cohen was the victim of a drive-by shooting, but later said it appeared that the gunmen had been hiding at the roadside when they ambushed his car.
The attack occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. as Cohen headed down Route 443, on a stretch between Givat Ze'ev and Beit Horon. He was about a kilometer and a half from Givat Ze'ev when he was shot.
Despite his wounds, Cohen continued driving until he collapsed and lost control of the car and it crashed.
The suspects were believed to have fled on foot toward Ramallah, and a large contingent of soldiers gave chase, but no suspects were apprehended as of late last night.
Magen David Adom medics tried in vain to revive Cohen, medic Ilan Gur-Arieh told The Jerusalem Post.He said that when the ambulance arrived Cohen had been taken out of the car, which had four bullet holes.
'He had four or five gunshot wounds to the chest. We attempted to resuscitate him for 10 minutes and then he was pronounced dead,' Gur-Arieh said.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak condemned the attack, and vowed that 'Israel will use all its strength to fight against those who perpetrate attacks.' However, he added that 'Israel will press forward, even at this time, to carry out its supreme commitment in Washington, to try to reach a political settlement that will put an end to the conflict and the bloodshed.'
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip issued a statement accusing Barak of following a policy that gives a green-light to Palestinians to attack Israelis.
'The talks in Washington must halt immediately and it should be stressed to Arafat that nothing will be gained through violence. It is inconceivable that negotiations are taking place under fire,' the statement said.
Later last night, Palestinians shot at an Israeli vehicle travelling inside the Green Line near Eyal, causing no injury. The shooting was in the vicinity of Kalkilya, where the IDF had recently lifted a blockade in response to a long period without shooting incidents in the area.
Two Palestinians were reported killed in clashes with the IDF in the Gaza Strip yesterday. The fatalities were identified as Rashid Barhoun, 26, of Rafah and Ahem Mreish, 18, who was shot at the Karni crossing.
In Memoriam
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