Ari Fuld shot at terrorist after being stabbed • US, EU condemn Gush Etzion attack

The United States and European Union envoys condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack in the Gush Etzion junction, which claimed the life of well-known pro-Israel advocate Ari Fuld.

A father of four, Fuld stood between the junction’s mall and the Rami Levi supermarket when he was stabbed in the back by Khalil Yusef Ali Jabarin, 17, from the city of Yatta in the South Hebron Hills.

Mortally wounded, Fuld chased his Palestinian attacker, jumping over a short stone wall and shooting him, before collapsing. Evacuated to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, he succumbed there to his wounds.

A dual citizen of Israel and the United States, Fuld lived in nearby Efrat and had been shopping at the junction at the time of the attack. His funeral was set for Sunday night in the Kfar Etzion cemetery. Fuld’s brother Hillel, a well-known high-tech guru, wrote on Twitter, “He lived as a hero and died as a hero. My big bro is gone.”

US Ambassador David Friedman tweeted a condolence message: “America grieves as one of its citizens was brutally murdered by a Palestinian terrorist.”

Fuld, Friedman wrote, “was a passionate defender of Israel and an American patriot. He represented the best of both countries, and will be deeply

missed. May his family be comforted and his memory be blessed.”

European Union envoy Emanuele Giaufret also sent condolences stating on Twitter: “There can be no justification for violence and terror.”

President Reuven Rivlin said Fuld “displayed exceptional courage and fought until the last moment. We, too, will pursue by any means the perpetrators of this attack.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likewise praised Fuld’s heroism.

“With his last strength, Ari fought heroically against the terrorist and prevented a graver tragedy,” Netanyahu said. “He was an outstanding father to four children who fought for the truth on the side of Israeli hasbara [advocacy].”

The junction’s commercial center, where the attack took place, is open to both Israelis and Palestinians and is often touted as an oasis of co-existence.

But it has also been the scene of numerous terror attacks in the last three years.

According to witness accounts, Jabarin hung out in the mall’s parking lot for a short while before attacking Fuld. He bought a falafel and argued with the shop owner about the price.

After the attack, Assaf Shilony discovered that his pizza store’s security camera had captured the critical moments of the drama. He placed some of the footage on his phone and showed it to customers, while they waited for their pizza.

The video shows that for more than an hour, Jabarin hung out in the parking lot by the mall. At times, he sat outside the pizza shop’s closed doors.

Then he walked up to the corner, Shilony said. Just before the left turn to the Rami Levi supermarket, he stabbed Fuld in the back.

Jabarin then fled in the direction of the mall, with Fuld chasing after him, with his gun drawn.

Security footage from the pizzeria caught the chase, with panicked pedestrians racing away, Jabarin flying past and Fuld close at his heels.

Gaby Vaknin, who works for the Gush Etzion Development Office, witnessed the attack.

“I heard someone yell ‘terror attack!’ and saw someone young with a 30 centimeter knife stab [wound],” Vaknin said.

He immediately dropped

his phone and the small plastic bag he was holding in his hand. Vaknin then placed his hand on the gun he wore at his waist and he too raced after the terrorist.

Vaknin said he saw Fuld shoot at Jabarin, before he collapsed from his wounds. As Jabarin neared the mall, Vaknin also shot him.

The mall’s security guard, Anatoly Tal Mazan, said he heard screams and saw people running away. As the terrorist came near him, he too drew his gun and shot him.

Both Jabarin and Fuld lay wounded on the pavement by the stores, a short distance from each other. Jabarin was transferred to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem where his condition was listed as moderate.

Regional Council chairman Shlomo Ne’eman temporally moved his office to the Gush Etzion junction, near the spot where Fuld collapsed. People also placed mourner’s candles there.

“There is one goal behind these attacks: disrupt our way of life. Our Arab neighbors have to deal with one question: either you live with us here and act like human beings or you choose terrorism and then pay the full price,” Ne’eman said.

He called on the Israeli government and the IDF to give a harsh response and “cut the hands of terrorists.”

Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report. •