Israel heartbroken after 4 Jews are massacred

Hundreds of Israelis paid their last respects on Tuesday to Elisha Anteman and Harel Masoud, two victims of the day’s Palestinian terrorist attack near Eli in the Binyamin region of Samaria.

The funerals of Ofer Fairman of Eli and Nachman Shmuel Mordoff of Ahiya took place on Wednesday.

Anteman, 17, a 12th-grade student at a seminary in Eli, was buried in the town.

Masoud, 21, had just completed his military service. He was laid to rest in Moshav Yesodot, in the Nahal Sorek region.

Eulogizing her son Harel, Yael Masoud said, “Our beautiful Haralush [“little Harel”]. I can’t understand that you are not here with us. How can we talk about you in the past tense? You have only just been released from the army, from the most rigid framework, and you have only blossomed. Now that you have finally started to live, to fulfill your dream and to settle the land you loved — now she is taking you to the depths of her land.”

The 63-year-old Fairman was buried in Eli. Those who knew him said he was “a man above and beyond, full of light and goodness. A man who loves to help everyone, unimaginable.”

Mordoff, 17, was buried in Shiloh. He leaves behind parents and seven siblings. His family said at the funeral that Mordoff was “a smiling boy, energetic and loved by all his friends. He was always involved in the sacred, helping others, smiling and strengthening the weak.”

Tuesday’s attack took place at the entrance to a restaurant at a gas station on Route 60 located below Eli, which is north of Ramallah and south of Nablus (Shechem). At least three of the victims were killed inside the restaurant by the masked terrorists who were armed with M16 assault rifles.

An armed civilian killed one terrorist in a firefight. The second murderer abandoned their vehicle and fled in a second, stolen, car. He was located after an hourslong manhunt and killed by Israel forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond forcefully to the attack.

“In recent months, we have already proven that we do settle the score with all of the murderers, without exceptions,” he said. “Anyone who harms us is either in prison or a grave.

Such will be the case here as well,” he added.  “All those who come after us — all options are open. We will continue fighting terror with full power and we will defeat it.

The Hamas terrorist group praised the attack, calling it a “swift reaction to the crimes of the occupation in the Jenin refugee camp and the storming of Al-Aqsa.”

“Revolutionaries in the West Bank are striking everywhere, and specifically where (Israel) does not expect it,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem.”

Palestinian Islamic Jihad similarly hailed the killings as “a natural response to the escalation and crimes of the occupation against the Palestinian people.”

The Eli community released a statement:

“Blessed is the true Judge. With great sadness, we announce the passing of Elisha Antman, who was murdered in today’s attack, a resident of the Neveh neighborhood in the Eli community. We share in the family’s grief,” i24 News reported.

The Nahal Sorek community in Yad Binyamin stated: “Dear Masood family, there are no words to express the shock and pain. The entire Nahal Sorek community grieves with you for the terrible disaster and shares in your unimaginable sorrow. May you rest in heaven. May his soul be bundled in the bundle of life.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held an operational situation assessment on Tuesday evening together with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and other officials.

Earlier, Gallant paid a hospital visit to IDF soldiers wounded in battle on Monday in Jenin, warning that “all options are on the table” to defeat Palestinian terrorism.

“I instructed the defense establishment to take proactive and offensive actions wherever there is a danger to the lives of our citizens and our forces,” said Gallant.

National Unity Party head Benny Gantz said Tuesday that the opposition would support an Israeli military response.

“Determined and responsible actions are required, led by the security forces. We will back every correct decision of the government in the face of murderous terrorism,” he said.