23:15: An Arab terrorist at about 19:10 on motzei Shabbos chol hamoed Sukkos attacked a Jewish family walking towards the Kosel about 300 meters from Shar Shechem, on Chaggai Street, the main street leading to the Kosel from Shar Shechem. Two men were killed and the wife of one of them gravely wounded.

The 19-year-old Islamic terrorist was shot dead as police returned fire. The terrorist, a PA (Palestinian Authority) resident of el-Bireh, jumped the first victim and began stabbing him all over his body. He then grabbed the victim’s pistol and began firing at a group of people nearby, wounding another man gravely. The man stabbed and the gravely wounded gunshot victim died a short time later of their massive injuries.

Also wounded by the terrorist gunfire was the couple’s 2-year-old child, reportedly in light condition with a gunshot wound to a leg in Shaare Zedek Medical Center. There appears to be another person wounded as well, injuries that are described as non-life-threatening. The wounded wife began running and she saw border police the 50 meters away. She alerted them to the ongoing attack. As they were responding they heard the gunfire ring out, gunfire that was directed at them as well. They returned fire and eliminated the terrorist.

The victims were transported to Hadassah Hospitals in Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus along with Shaare Zedek Medical Center. A gag order was placed on the investigation surrounding the attack.

It is permitted to announce the names of the two men murdered in the attack HY”D.
1. Rav Nechemia Lavi HY”D, 41, a resident of the capital who just completed the course to become an IDF rabbi.
2. Rav Aaron Benita-Binat HY”D, 21, of Betar Illit, a rav at Yeshivas Ateret Kohanim.

Following the attack persons affiliated with the Shuvu Banim Yeshiva in the so-called Muslim Quarter of the Old City took to the streets and began vandalizing stores and property owned by Arabs. Spontaneous protests were reported in areas of Yehuda and Shomron, as well as the planned protest at Kikar Tzion in downtown Jerusalem following the erev Shabbos fatal attack in the Shomron that claimed the lives of Rabbi Eitam and Na’ama Henkin HY”D.  There were reports of confrontations between Jews and Arabs at Mamilla Mall in the capital, and racial tensions flared elsewhere in the city.

There was a report of an Israeli Arab stabbed near the entrance of Kiryat Arba and an ambulance responding had its windshield blown out by rocks. At least one rocket was fired into southern Israel from Gaza, landing near the border fence without fatalities or injuries B’chasdei Hashem. Gunfire without injuries was reported in Beit Haninah (Jerusalem) and gunfire from Jalazoun was directed into Beit El in Shomron as well. There were other rock-throwing and firebomb attacks in Yehuda and Shomron. B’chasdei Hashem no fatalities or injuries in these attacks.

In a directly related event, the Gerre Rebbe Shlita has instructed chassidim not to go to the Kosel until further notice due to the dangers lurking in that area. The rebbe’s announcement was disseminated by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman. Litzman briefed the rebbe regarding the fatal attack, to which the rebbe responded chassidim should refrain from visiting the Kosel for now.

On the flip side, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita has called on Am Yisrael to come to the Kosel, davka at this time as Arabs are trying to scare Jews away from the site.

Politicians from the president, prime minister, cabinet ministers and members of the coalition and opposition responded to the new wave of fatal attacks, each in line with his/her hashkafa. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is in contact with high-ranking defense and intelligence community officials and is holding briefings ahead of what will be a major redeployment of police, border police and IDF forces in areas of Yerushalayim, Yehuda and Shomron. Tensions run high on this Hoshana Raba night as police are preparing for many visitors and mispallalim over Hashanah Raba Simchas Torah.

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita have called for an atzeres tefilla at the Kosel tonight at 23:30, in a quarter of an hour to be mispallel due to the worrisome situation for the speedy and total recovery of the victims.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)