Posted by
J-GOP on Friday, March 07, 2008 11:23:05 AM
If current reports are accurate, the terrorist that attacked the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva may have been a Palestinian citizen living in Israeli-controlled East Jerusalem. If proved true, this incident opens up an entirely new chapter for Israeli citizens and the country's war with Palestinian terrorists.
"Residents of Jabel Mukaber neighborhood say the shooter who killed eight students at Jerusalem seminary Thursday was arrested by Israel four months ago, released two months later; neighbors claim he worked as driver at seminary. In the neighborhood in east Jerusalem, Palestinian residents hold Israeli ID cards that give them freedom of movement in Israel."
In additon, Yoni points out that this was a symbolic attack to Israelis making it akin to a non-Muslim going to Mecca and opening fire on Muslim worshipers at its most holy of sites:
"If you don't understand the ramifications of this targeted attack, let me give you some background Mercaz Harav Yeshiva is considered the leading national-religious yeshiva in Israel, with hundreds of elite students. Among its thousands of graduates are leading public figures including senior rabbis and IDF officers. It was founded in 1924 by mandatory Palestine's first chief rabbi, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook. Its longtime head, Rabbi Avraham Shapira, died in September 2007."
The incident, which was the worst terrorist incident since a February 2004 bus bombing, could signal an expansion of the region's perpetual cycle of violence and retaliation. In addition, if it is proved that this terrorist had a blue Israeli ID tag, then this incident opens up a entirely new chapter for Israel, placing every Palestinian citizen living in Israel at additional scruitiny for the potential of terrorism.
The question now for Israelis is what action will Prime Minister Olmert take in the face of this incident to prevent it from happening again? If he does nothing, Israelis may not sit idly by. According to Yoni:
"If Olmert does not get his act together and respond like a real Prime Minister to the daily rocket attacks and today's murderes at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, bad things will happen."