Shomron baby in critical condition after rock attack

A baby is in critical, life threatening condition following an ambush by Palestinian Arabs who hurled large rocks at the car in which she was traveling.

Two year old Adelle Bitton, was in a car along with her mother and two older sisters on the Trans-Samaria road near the city of Ariel, when the car came under rock attack last Thursday night, March 14th. As a result of the rock attack, the car lost control and swerved off the road, where it crashed into a truck. The truck had also come under rock attack and was standing on the road’s shoulder when the accident took place.

All four passengers in the car were injured, including the baby’s mother, Adva Bitton, and her two sisters, six-year-old Naama and four-year-old Avigail. The mother and two sisters were listed in moderate condition. The Bitton family lives in the town of Yakir in Samaria (Shomron).

The IDF worked quickly in the wake of the attack and by Friday morning had arrested 10 suspects, all Palestinian Authority resident Arab men who live in the area. A statement from the IDF Friday morning read, “The IDF takes very seriously the unacceptable phenomenon of ‘popular terrorism’ which includes, among other things, throwing rocks. The IDF will continue to take determined action, both overt and covert, to guarantee the safety of residents of the area.”

Adva Bitton spoke Sunday about the attack. “First of all, I have to say that the fact that I survived, that my daughters Avigail and Na’ami survived, it was an open miracle.”

“Whoever has seen the pictures [from the crash] can testify that [survival] was not at all clear,” she added.

The family of Adele Bitton is asking the public for a renewed effort in praying for the two-year-old’s health. The child has already undergone two head surgeries. Her full Hebrew name is Adele Chaya Bat Adva. The family has added an extra middle name, as is traditional in some cases when praying for health and well being. In a stirring message to the public, Adva Bitton said:

“ I am asking everyone, anyone with a Jewish soul anywhere in the world… to do something for Adelle’s sake. Something small – a good deed, tzedaka, improving something in himself that needs improving, and to pray for the health of Adelle Chaya Bat Adva. To raise a great shout in the heavens. I know G-d loves me or He would not have left me here. It’s simple.”

“As a mother it is very difficult for me, because you see your child and you want to do everything for her. G-d at least gave me the possibility to hold her head. I was trapped. I did the little bit that I could for her. If I could give my life for hers, I would do it. Because every mother would do that for her child.”