2 American yeshiva students hurt in Hebron firebombing
Five tourists take wrong turn in West Bank city, are saved by Palestinian local who lets them hide in his home
Five American yeshiva students were attacked by Palestinians in Hebron after they got lost in the West Bank city on Thursday.
Two of the students, residents of Brooklyn, NY were lightly-to-moderately injured in the riot that ensued after they accidentally entered the southern part of the predominantly Palestinian city, while en route to the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Palestinian assailants firebombed their car, setting it alight, according to the Walla news website.
The group was whisked away by a local, who let them hide in his house until Israel security forces arrived to extract them.
The two injured ultra-Orthodox students were evacuated for medical treatment.
“I heard shouts outside, I left my house and saw the five Jews frantically leaving their car, which was attacked by stones,” Faiz Abu Hamadiah, 51, told the NRG news site. “They were very anxious, one was injured and bleeding from his face. I reassured down. I told them in Hebrew that it will be okay, I gave them water, and I helped the injured man.
“I told them they were safe in my house. Immediately afterward they called the police, and I sent teenagers to call the army to take them to the checkpoint.
“I did the right thing,” he added, dismissing concerns of being branded a “collaborator” with Israel by his neighbors. “The people that threw stones at them and torched their car did a bad thing. We need to live here together.”
Hebron, home to the Cave of the Patriarchs pilgrimage site, holy to both Jews and Muslims, is divided between a small population of settlers and a larger population of Palestinians, who control most of the city.
