Investigators into the fatal Palestinian stabbing attack in Otniel earlier in the week reveal that as the terrorist was repeatedly stabbing his victim at the entrance to her home, aware her children were inside, she fought to keep the knife in her body so he could not grab it and run after the children inside.

17-year-old daughter Ra’anana was witness to the attack as Mrs. Meir screamed. “I was in my parent’s bedroom on the phone. I first thought to myself she was frightened from a bug, which would lead my ima to screaming. The screams continued and understood something happened. When I got up the stairs ima was already on the ground fighting with the terrorist”.

“I saw him try to pull out the knife. I screamed to my two brothers not to come to the living room. I understood he wanted to continue [stabbing] and it took a few seconds until he realized he would not succeed. She would not let him pull out the knife and harm us. I screamed and he was scared and fled”.

She adds that after he fled she could not recall “long phone numbers” but she did remember MDA and phoned the EMS. “I shouted all the time, telling them to send an ambulance. Ima was still breathing. I kept asking to please continue breathing. Not to stop but I already understood and it was clear to me how this was going to end. She tried to continue breathing and I felt she could hear me despite that fact she was no longer responding. I hope she did not hear my screams”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)