'Our flower has been snatched'
(VIDEO) 'Instead of mom accompanying me to the Hupa, I'm accompanying her to her grave,' says son of Sunday's terror attack victim
(VIDEO) Family and friends of Kinneret Ben-Shalom, who was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist who went on a knife rampage in a taxi minibus, are mourning her loss at the family home in Petah Tikva.
Stabbing attack aftermath (Video: Reuters)
"Instead of Mom accompanying me to the Hupa, I'm accompanying her to her grave," said Avihai Ben Shalom Hajbi, 25, son of Kinneret, 53, who was murdered in the terrorist knife attack in Petah Tikva.
Family members and many neighbors gathered at the family home in Petah Tikva. Kinneret's sister, Tziyona, said that just this morning (Sunday) she spoke with her sister.
"She told me everything was alright. Later I was traveling by cab and I heard there was a knife attack on the minibus taxi. I told the taxi driver, 'oh no, that better not be my sister,' and the driver told me 'There are a lot of passengers on that route,' and told me not to worry. I called her and she didn't answer. I called another sister, Yona, and told her that I think something happened to Kinneret; I felt that something bad happened to her."
Kinneret's sisters recounted her through tears.
"She was a religious woman; she prayed all the time and did everything to help people. She never harmed a fly," one sister said.
Kinneret moved to Petah Tikva from Rishon Letzion after getting married. Her sister recounted: We told her it was more dangerous to live in Petah Tikva, but she calmed us down and said that God is great, and if something was going to happen, it would happen.
Helping others
Family members said Kinneret took part in carrying out mitzvot (Torah commandments) and helping others. She also participated in alternative medicine and helped all those who requested treatment.
"She did all of this help without anything in exchange. How could anyone hurt this woman? Have we reached a stage where we have to be scared to use a taxi or walk in the street?" said her sister, Tziona.
She added: I want to look the terrorist in the eyes. He snatched a flower from us.
Kinneret's mother has still not been told of her daughter's murder. The mother is over 80, and the family does not know how to tell her of the news.
"How do we tell her daughter has been killed? Four years ago she lost a son to disease and now she lost a daughter. Terrorists have destroyed our family today. We cared so much for each other, we were always in touch. We were six brothers and sisters, now there are four of us left," said a family member.
Ariyeh Hajabi, brother in law, said "This won't end with her. It got to us and it will get to others. The terrorist really tore her apart; he cut her from the chest to the stomach. This must end."
Kinneret has left behind a husband and three children. Her funeral will commence at 14:00 on Monday in Petah Tikva and she will be buried at 15:00 in Rishon Letzion.
