Terrorist attack on bus at Emmanuel
July 16, 2002
Nine people were killed and 20 wounded when a Palestinian terrorist cell, apparently dressed in IDF uniforms, ambushed a bus from Bnei Brak a few hundred meters from the entrance to Emmanuel. Shortly after 3:00 P.M. two 20-kilo bombs were set off about 200 meters from the town's entrance, damaging the bus's front tires and forcing it off the road.
It appears that no one was wounded by the explosions, but that the explosion damaged the bus doors, trapping the passengers inside. The terrorists then started to shoot at the bus, firing through the unprotected roof and throwing grenades through the narrow upper windows, which are not armored. They also fired at another vehicle behind the bus, wounding three of its passengers. The assailants managed to escape.
IDF forces pursued the terrorists throughout the night. One Palestinian gunman, suspected of belonging to the terror cell which carried out the attack, was killed on Wednesday morning.
While at least four Palestinian organizations claimed responsibility for the attack - the Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the DFLP - it was apparently carried out by the same Hamas cell which carried out the attack in Emmanuel on Dec 12, 2001.
The names of the victims:
- Galila Ades, 42, of Emmanuel
- Yocheved Ben-Hanan, 21, of Emmanuel
- Yonatan Gamliel, 16, of Emmanuel
- Keren Kashani, 29, of Emmanuel
- Sarah Tiferet Shilon, 8 months, of Emmanuel
- Gal Shilon (her father), 32, of Emmanuel
- Zilpa Kashi (her grandmother), 65, of Givatayim
- Ilana Siton, 35, of Emmanuel
- The premature infant delivered after its mother, Yehudit Weinberg, was seriously injured, died of his injuries overnight.
News reports:
7 die in terror attack on Immanuel bus - Ha'aretz, July 17, 2002
How the bus attack near Emmanuel unfolded - Ha'aretz, July 17, 2002
Eighth Immanuel victim was too young to have a name - Ha'aretz, July 18, 2002
Reactions of world leaders:
"The Quartet deeply deplores today's tragic killing of Israeli civilians and reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism, including suicide bombing, which is morally repugnant and has caused great harm to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a better future. Terrorists must not be allowed to kill the hope of an entire region, and a united international community, for genuine peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis."
"Quartet" Joint Statement - July 16, 2002
Bush condemns attack - J.Post, July 17, 2002