The Roof is Falling In

The Roof is Falling In

May 29, 2001

At 7:30 this morning, when Anat Cohen, Oren Zar and Shlomit Bar-Cochva opened the door of their respective homes in Hebron, death stood on the steps. Awaiting them were messengers bearing tidings of the death of their brother, Gilad, aged 41, father of eight, murdered by terrorists not far from this home, the community of Itamar, in the Shomron.

Gilad was the security officer of the Shomron municipal region. On March 25, less than three months ago, he was shot and critically injured, having been hit by a bullet in the chest.  He had not yet fully recovered from his wounds, but insisted on returning to work, which was vital to the security of residents living in the Shomron.  This morning, at about 7:00, again he was shot by members of Arafat’s armed forces. This time he was hit in the head and died a short time later.

According to reports broadcast on Kol Yisrael, after having killed Gilad, the terrorists approached his car and continued shooting. It is now reported that his car may have been booby-trapped by the terrorists. IDF sappers are presently trying to neutralize the bombs attached to the car.

Gilad Zar was one of eight brothers and sisters. Gilad’s father, Moshe Zar, is a well-known land dealer in the Shomron. He was injured during the Sinai war in 1956, when he lost an eye. Years later he was attacked by Arab terrorists and very critically injured.

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See picture of Gilad Zar - http://www.hebron.org.il/pics/giladzar.htm

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This morning the Israeli cabinet met in special session to discuss last week’s wedding hall disaster, which left 23 dead and hundreds wounded. At least nine people have been arrested, including the architect, engineer, contractor, etc. The cabinet decided to form a special governmental committee of inquiry, to investigate the cause of the tragedy.  The pictures of people literally falling through the floor are unlike anything most of us have ever seen. Heart-breaking stories are told of those who died. The bride and groom were both injured. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s decision to implement the law calling for a committee of inquiry is understandable.

What is incomprehensible is that since Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords, over 500 Jews have been murdered by Rabin’s ‘peace partner.’ Almost 90 Israelis, civilians and military personnel have been butchered in the last 8 months, all at the hands of Arafat’s armed forces. People like Gilad Zar, murdered in cold blood, victims of war declared by the Arafat’s palestinian authority against the State of Israel. Last night Sharon reiterated Israel’s willingness to continue a one-sided cease-fire.  Arafat, traveling around the world, drumming up support for his murderous activities, has not ordered his troops to stop fighting. To the contrary, they are increasing their activities throughout Israel, all of Israel.

How can Ariel Sharon sit quietly will car bombs are exploding in Jerusalem, the capital of our country? How can he sit quietly while Gilo is being attacked? How can he sit quietly when civilians are being killed one after another? How can he agree to implement another cursed agreement, this time called “Mitchell,” again rewarding Arafat for continued terror and killing.

If the tragic deaths of 23 people in a building collapse demands a Committee of Inquiry, what about the Oslo catastrophe? When will the planners, engineers and contractors of Oslo be forced to answer for their crimes?  When will Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin stand trial for the needless deaths and suffering they have inflicted on their people? The Israeli cabinet must decide on formation of a special governmental committee of inquiry to investigate the calamity called Oslo, a debacle endangering the very existence of the State of Israel.

Sometimes we say, in retrospect, the writing was on the wall. The secret is to see that writing, not in retrospect, but before tragedy strikes.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: The writing is on the wall and tragedy has already struck.

THE ROOF IS FALLING IN!