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October 20, 2003
Three IDF soldiers killed in Fatah ambush
Margot Dudkevitch
Three IDF soldiers of the Duhifat Batalion were killed and a fourth soldier moderately wounded in a terrorist ambush as they patrolled inside the Ein Yabrud village east of Ramallah and south of Ofra on Sunday night.
The three were identified as Sgt. Elad Polak, 20, from Kiryat Motzkin; Sgt. Roi Yaakov Solomon, 21, from Tel Aviv and St.-Sgt. Erez Idan, 20 from Rishon Lezion.
(For profiles of the slain soldiers — see related story.)
The Fatah Al Aksa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack in which three terrorists, who hid behind a low cement wall near the road and waited for the soldiers, crept up behind the troops and opened fire at the patrol ten meters away. They then fled in a Fiat Uno car taking the soldiers’ weapons with them.
The three soldiers died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, back and chest and legs officials said. Pollak is to be buried in the military section at the Tsur Shalom cemetery Monday afternoon at 3.30.
In a briefing with reporters at the entrance to Ofra, OC Central Command Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky said the terrorists attacked the soldiers from the rear.
The soldiers’ commander who was in a vehicle nearby heard the gunshots and arrived at the scene two minutes later and alerted security forces.
Kaplinsky praised the Duhifat Batallion who operate in the area on a permanent basis and said soldiers from the batallion were currently searching for the terrorists. "Duhifat who lost three of its soldiers is an excellent batallion and they are presently pursuing the perpetraters," he said.
The soldiers were not conducting routine operations but involved in combined activities that include foot and mobile patrols as well as other activities in an attempt to enhance the security of Israelis who drive on Road 60, said Kaplinsky. "I believe that if the terrorists hadn’t run into the soldiers they would have perpetrated a shooting attack at Israeli vehicles who use the main road and would have harmed civilians," said Kaplinsky.
IDF forces imposed a curfew on the village located in an area under Israeli security control, as troops searched the surrounding area for the perpetrators, using flares to light up the skies and IAF helicopter support to hunt down the perpetraters. The search extended into neighborhing villages in an attempt to find the terrorists who according to IDF officials used two Kalashnikov rifles and an M16 in the shooting.
An IDF official told The Jerusalem Post that the terrorists suprised the soldiers who were in the midst of patrolling the village in the framework of deterrence activities carried out by security forces.
According to initial findings officials said the soldiers all wore bulletproof flac jackets when they were hit.
Security officials did not rule out the possibility that the attack was orchestrated and planned by Fatah fugitives based in the Mukata in Ramallah, the headquarters of PA Yasser Arafat.
In stating its claim the Fatah Al Aksa Briagde said the shooting was in response to the IDF activities in Rafah. Refuting this statement, Israeli diplomatic sources said that Al Aksa Brigade attacks did not start with the IDF operations in Rafah, which were aimed at uncovering weapons smuggling tunnels.
On receiving reports of the shooting shortly after 7, Magen David Adom ambulances from Ofra, Psagot and other communities raced to the scene.
Paramedic Yaniv Oved said by the time he arrived at the scene ambulance paramedics were attempting to resuscitate the three soldiers. "There was nothing that could be done they suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and other parts of the bodies. The wounded soldier was transferred to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem," he said.
Dr. Shmuel Shapiro deputy head of the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem said the wounded soldier arrived close to an hour after the shooting suffering from gunshot wounds to the legs. He described the soldier’s condition as moderate and said his wounds were being evaluated for further treatment.
Pinhas Wallerstein head of the Binyamin Regional Council pointed an accusing finger at the Mukata. "Tonight’s fatal shooting attack came from the Mukata under Arafat’s guidance. Sharon’s government must carry out its decision and oust Arafat the murderer and finish with him. Arafat spilt enough Jewish blood and its about time he is served with the death sentence, the only fitting punishment for him," said Wallerstein.
In the past three years there have been numerous terrorist shooting in the area perpetrated by the Fatah Al Aksa Brigades.
A diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Israel Radio that the attack "quickens the coming of the day of reckoning for the Palestinian Authority leadership."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the attack only strengthened Israel’s resolve in its war against terrorism.
Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, being interviewed on Channel One TV when news of the terror attack came in, condemned the shooting and held Palestinian leaders responsible.
"These madmen causing us sorrow and pain are also causing the Palestinians a deterioration into helplessness. The Palestinians don’t realize the disaster they are bringing upon themselves," Lapid said.
Meanwhile, five reservist batallions will be deployed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the framework of a limited mobilization of reservists who received call up notices during the Succot week as part of an effort to beef up the security presence in the Territories due to the ongoing violence.
Israel’s security establishment has registered 42 terror warnings for Sunday 19th October 2003.
Earlier in the month, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz paved the way for a limited call up of reservists and cancelled all IDF training and officers courses due to the increase in the number of alerts received by the security establishment of plans by terrorists to perpetrate attacls.
Mofaz handed over the sole authorization of calling up reservists and cancelling training courses to Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya’alon who judging on operational requirements makes the necessary decisions.
In Memoriam
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