Six people were killed and 35 wounded, 11 seriously, when two terrorists fired automatic weapons and threw grenades at passersby and voters at the Likud
polling station in Beit She'an and the nearby central bus station on Thursday afternoon. The terrorists were shot and killed by an off-duty border policeman
and civilians.
The names of five of those killed were released for publication Haim Amar, 56, David Peretz, 48, Ya'acov Larry, 35, Mordechai Avraham, 44, all of Beit She'an,
and Shaul Finklestein, 58, of Upper Nazareth.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the attack was a blatant attempt by Palestinians to interfere in the electoral process.
"Today the terrorists' aim was to interfere with Israel's democratic process. Terror will not dictate our lives," Sharon told a press conference. "We have clear
evidence that the Palestinians, the terrorist organizations, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab states want to interfere in the democratic process terrorism is
one of the instruments to do this... I call on the citizens of Israel, Likud members, to vote."
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said there has been a sharp escalation in attempted terrorist attacks in the past two weeks.
The wounded were taken to Ha'emek Hospital in Afula and Poriya Hospital in Tiberias, and two critically wounded were then transferred by air to Haifa's
Rambam Hospital.
Among the wounded are three of MK David Levy's sons, Jackie and Ori, who were lightly wounded, and Shimon, who underwent surgery at Ha'emek
Hospital, where his condition was described as serious but stable.
Sharon telephoned Levy to inquire about his sons.
Fatah's Aksa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was to avenge the deaths of Ala'a al-Sabagh, 24, a senior brigade commander,
and Imad Nasharti, 22, a senior Hamas commander, who were killed in a mysterious explosion in the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday night. The IDF said
bombs they were preparing exploded prematurely.
Security officials said that while the Palestinian Authority issued a condemnation, PA Chairman Yasser Arafat himself had made no statement condemning
terrorist attacks.
The terrorists, Omar and Yusef Abu Roub, both in their 20s, from Jelaboun at the foot of the Mount Gilboa, received their instructions from the Tanzim
headquarters in Jenin. Shortly before 3:30 p.m., they arrived in Beit She'an in a stolen car. One raced toward the central bus station and the other headed for
the Likud office. Both began shooting and throwing grenades.
MK David Levy's son Ori said he was with his brothers in the polling station when a terrorist wearing a black leather jacket approached.
"I recognized the sound of the grenade pin being pulled, and my brother Jackie and I shouted at everyone to get down, then the grenade exploded. We saw two
terrorists approaching the branch shooting. One of the terrorists caught my eye and aimed his Kalashnikov at me at point-blank range he wanted to make
certain that I would be killed. Luckily his ammunition clip was empty and, as he tried to change it, I took advantage of the situation and called on everyone to
run outside. I went to a group of soldiers at the bus station and called out to them that there were terrorists," he told reporters.
From his hospital bed, Jackie Levy told Channel 2 that he was outside the Likud headquarters when he noticed a car pull up and two men armed with
Kalashnikov rifles and grenades got out and ran toward them.
"They began shooting. One of them wore an IDF uniform. They shot at people that were already lying wounded on the ground to make sure they were dead...
I want to send my condolences to the bereaved families... I am here but my heart is with them," he said.
Border Police F-Sgt. Eran David, 28, who serves in the Jerusalem area was visiting his mother when he heard the gunshots, grabbed his weapon, and raced
outside.
"I cocked my weapon and ran in the direction of the shooting. I spotted one of the terrorists four or five meters from me, and I closed in on him, aimed, and
fired five bullets at his head. He fell. I ran to the Likud branch to assist the wounded. At that time, I didn't realize there was another terrorist. I heard shooting,
spotted him, and fired a number of bullets at his head and he fell," he told reporters.
Amit Dadon, a vet who works near the Likud polling station, said he killed one of the terrorists, who was lying wounded on the ground and raised his head.
Security forces and Magen David Adom teams arrived and began treating the wounded, as the area was sealed off. Residents were asked to remain inside their
homes, and schools and kindergartens were instructed to close their gates and ensure no one left the buildings, as security forces searched the area after
eyewitnesses reported spotting a third terrorist fleeing.
Security forces at the entrances to Afula and Hadera and in the Nahal Iron area were reinforced.
Several hours later, residents were given the all clear to leave their homes, after police ruled out the possibility that a third terrorist was involved. Residents
gathered at the site to demonstrate, shouting "Death to Arabs," and "Revenge."
Others declared their outrage over Sharon's decision to keep the polling station open.
