IDF: Shooting attack victims saved by miracle

Military officials slam settlers hurt in West Bank shooting attack Friday for failing to coordinate their trip with authorities; attacked yeshiva student: We suspect Arabs in area reported our presence to terrorists

Meital Yasur-Beit Or |Published: 06.20.08 , 20:59

The Israelis targeted by terrorists near Ramallah were saved "by miracle," IDF officials said Friday evening. The army slammed the settlers attacked earlier in the day for failing to report their trip to authorities. The hikers, however, said they coordinated the trip with the security chief in their West Bank community.

Following an initial inquiry into the incident, an IDF officer characterized the settlers' trip as an "irresponsible act," saying that only a miracle prevented the attack from ending on a much grimmer note.

Shooting victims evacuated by helicopter (Photo: Ofer Amram)

"Recently there have been several cases on Fridays where hikers entered Area B (of the West Bank) without coordinating it," the military official said. "At times it ends without any problems, but there are quite a few cases where the army is forced to go in and rescue the hikers."

In the coming days, ahead of the beginning of summer vacation, IDF officials intended to stress the proper procedures for trips in Judea and Samaria with the assistance of settler leaders and rabbis.

'They fired at them and ran away'

Meanwhile, one of the shooting victims, who sustained moderate wounds, said the group of settlers targeted Friday noticed suspicious figures a short time before the attack.

"There were Arabs near the spring, and we suspect that they reported our presence to the terrorists," he said. "We didn't even manage to go into the nearby spring when we heard the shots."

Another attack victim, yeshiva student Yehuda Israel who sustained light wounds, said the terrorists fired when most hikers were standing with their backs to the shooters.

"I was facing them, so I saw there were two of them. After they fired we took cover. We were scared they're hiding somewhere in the wadi," he said. "We fired in the air to make sure they don't get closer…we didn't know where they are."

The third shooting victim, 19-year-old Avraham Kasir, sustained serious wounds and was rushed into surgery. His father, Ehud, said that his son was conscious until he reached the hospital.

"Apparently, they (terrorists) surprised them, fired at them, and ran away," the father said. "Avraham was hurt in the stomach and remained conscious all through the evacuation."