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Amit Steinhart, in the back, with Youssef Ottman

'They were my friends, my brothers,' security coordinator says of slain guards

Security coordinator Amit Steinhart recounts the harrowing terror attack in Har Adar: 'I realized I had lost my security guards and my friend the Border Policeman Solomon'; Rivlin visits families of guards Or Arish and Youssef Ottman: 'Your son prevented terrorist from reaching school where my grandson was.'

Security coordinator Amit Steinhart, who was wounded in the terror attack in Har Adar, is heartbroken by the deaths of guards Youssef Ottman, 25, and Or Arish, 25, and Border Policeman Solomon Gavriya, 20, in the attack.

 

 

"They were my friends, my brothers," he told Jerusalem Police chief Yoram Halevi, who came to visit him at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Karem.

 

"I was hit in the shoulder. Despite the pain, I drew my gun and shot at (the terrorist)," Steinhart recounted.

 

Jerusalem Police chief Yoram Halevi (Photo: Israel Police)
Jerusalem Police chief Yoram Halevi (Photo: Israel Police)
 

"I saw my security guards and the Border Policeman, who all fought bravely, lying on the ground. I yelled at (the terrorist) that he killed three of my children, and shot at him again," he added.

 

"At this point, the other forces and paramedics arrived at the scene. I think even then I realized I had lost my security guards and my friend the Border Policeman Solomon, may they rest in peace."

 

Steinhart said he had known the attacker. "I knew all of the workers who came into the community through the checkpoint. He would always be among the last to enter. Yesterday, something about his behavior raised my suspicion, particularly as he was wearing a jacket on a warm day," he said.

 

"We asked him to present us with his work permit. He tarried for a bit and then opened his jacket and started shooting at my security guards and the Border Policeman," Steinhart continued.

 

The Jerusalem Police chief told Steinhart he had acted bravely and saved lives. "You paid the price and got hurt, but with your body you saved lives. This is our job as security personnel: To stand at the front, to prevent and thwart attempts to hurt innocent people. And there you were, you, the security guards and the soldiers," Halevi said.

 

President Reuven Rivlin paid condolence on Wednesday visits to the families of the two security guards, Youssef Ottman and Or Arish.

 

Rivlin told the grieving families that he had come to express his thanks, as president and in the name of all the Israeli people, for the lives of the men, women, and children that their sons had saved, and added a personal note as a grandfather.

 

“My grandson is a neighbor, was at the school in Har Adar, and your son prevented the terrorist from reaching the school,” he said. “Your son fell preventing a terrorist from harming the citizens of the town. He was defending his own home, and the homes of all of us.”

 

Rivlin visits the Arish family (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Rivlin visits the Arish family (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)

 

At the Arish family home, Rivlin heard of Or’s wonderful character as a man of action, who always gave generously of his time to help others in need.

 

Rivlin embraced Or’s two brothers and sister and asked them to be strong for their parents.

 

To Or’s grandmothers, he said, “My heart is broken, also as a grandparent. We are here with you, and share your inconceivable pain.”

 

At the Ottman family home in Abu Ghosh, Rivlin met Youssef’s parents and siblings, and heard about Youssef as a kindhearted young man who loved his country, and served as a border policeman.

 

Rivlin embraces Issam Ottman, whose son Youssef was killed in the attack (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Rivlin embraces Issam Ottman, whose son Youssef was killed in the attack (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)

 

“I pray together with you that this house will from now on only know happier times. I pray that as a country, we will stop just talking about the bond of blood between Jews and Muslims, and instead we will hold sacred the bond of life. Here in Abu Ghosh there is a bond of life. I came to share in your terrible grief and to say how much we appreciate your sons.”

 

Rivlin with Nadia Ottman, Youssef's sister (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Rivlin with Nadia Ottman, Youssef's sister (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)

 

“Mr. President,” Youssef’s father Issam said, “We chose life. Clear and simple. We chose this people. This is our people. Without a doubt. We want to offer our support to the other families. We should not only be together in grief, but also in life.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.27.17, 19:51
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