2015 Tel Aviv synagogue stabbing

On November 19, 2015, an assailant approached the entrance of a Tel Aviv synagogue at prayer time, and stabbed and killed two worshipers. The attacker was arrested.[1]

2015 synagogue stabbing
Location Derekh Ben-Zvi 84, Kiryat Shalom, Tel Aviv, Israel
DateNovember 19, 2015 (2015-11-19)
Targetcivilians
Attack type
Stabbing
Weaponsknife
Deaths2
Injured1
PerpetratorRaid Halil bin Mahmoud (lone wolf)

Attack

The attacker approached the entrance to the informal prayer room located in a South Tel Aviv building during afternoon prayers.[2] Worshippers inside the synagogue became aware of the attack when a man covered in blood staggered into the room and someone shouted, "There's a terrorist." Some worshipers assisted the wounded man while the other men who had been praying rushed to close the door, leaning against it to prevent the attacker from entering. When the terrorist ceased attempting to shove the door open, they rushed out with makeshift weapons to try to subdue him.[3]

Context

This attack shocked the nation coming, as it did, after a period of calm, free of terror attacks.[4] According to the Jewish non-governmental organization ADL, it was "the bloodiest day in Israel since this latest round of Palestinian violence began back in September."[5]

This was the first attack to be carried out by a Palestinian who had successfully passed through the security screening process and obtained a permit to work in Israel.[4]

Impact

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories responded by suspending 1,200 entry permits to Israel, for Palestinians from the Hebron area.[6][7][8]

Victims
  • Aharon Yesiab (Yesayev) (32), dead at the scene
  • Reuven Aviram (51), who died within hours, in hospital.[9][10][11][12]

Assailant

The attacker, Raid Halil bin Mahmoud (36), father of five, was arrested and identified as an Arab from the town of Dura.[7] He had recently been granted a permit to work in a Tel Aviv restaurant, but told authorities that his purpose in getting the permit had been to kill Jews.[2][3][10] The attacker had been granted the work permit enabling him to enter Israel only 4 days before he stabbed two men to death at the synagogue.[7] The assailant was indicted for murder on 13 December 2015.[12]

Responses
  • Hamas stated, "We welcome the heroic operation in Tel Aviv that killed two people... We call on the Palestinians to continue such activities."[3]
  • The attacker's mother stated: "My son is a source of pride for Hebron and Palestine."[13]

The Israeli government demolished Raid Halil bin Mahmoud's West Bank home in response to the attack.[14]

See also

References
  1. Edward Mickolus (August 8, 2016). Terrorism, 2013-2015: A Worldwide Chronology. McFarland. pp. 490–. ISBN 978-1-4766-2589-8.
  2. Moore, Jack (November 19, 2015). "Two Israelis Killed in Tel Aviv Stabbing Attack Outside Synagogue". Newsweek. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  3. Steinbuch, Yaron (November 19, 2015). "American teen among 5 killed in Palestinian terror attacks". New York Post. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  4. Davidovich, Joshua (November 20, 2015). "The storm after the calm". Times of Israel. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  5. "American terror victim perished on 'bloodiest day since violence began'". The Jerusalem Post. November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. Cohen, Gili (November 20, 2015). "Israel Suspends 1,200 Palestinian Entry Permits in Wake of Deadly Tel Aviv Terror Attack". Haaretz. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. Winer, Stuart (November 20, 2015). "Israel freezes hundreds of Palestinian entry permits". Times of Israel. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. Weiss, Mark (November 20, 2015). "Israel suspends entry permits for Palestinian labourers". The Irish Times. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  9. "US yeshiva student among 5 dead in Palestinian terror attacks". JTA. November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  10. "At least 5 dead in West Bank and Tel Aviv terrorist attacks". Fox News. November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  11. Levinson, Chaim (November 19, 2015). "5 Killed, Several Wounded in Tel Aviv, West Bank Terror Attacks". Haaretz. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  12. "Suspect in Tel Aviv terror attack indicted for murder". Times of Israel. December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  13. Winer, Stuart (November 19, 2015). "Tel Aviv terrorist's mother 'proud' of her son's actions". Times of Israel. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  14. "Israeli military demolishes homes of 2 Palestinian attackers". KSL. Associated Press. February 23, 2016.

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