4 killed, 5 critical in Tel Aviv attack
Four people were killed and five remain seriously injured following a June 8 in a shooting at an outdoor shopping center in Tel Aviv.
Two gunmen carried out the apparent terror attack and were shot and disarmed, according to the police.
“One is wounded, the other’s condition is unclear at the moment,” said police spokeswoman Merav Lapidot.
The Magen David Adom rescue service said it took nine victims to Tel Aviv hospitals. As of press time, one died there and five others remained in serious condition.
Police confirmed reports that the gunmen came from Hebron, but declined to identify them by name.
Yousef Jabarin, a bartender at the Max Brenner Restaurant in Sarona Market, told the Times of Israel that the shooters arrived there about 15 minutes before the attack and ordered the “milky brownies.” Without eating anything, they then stood up and began shooting.
Jabarin said the attackers were dressed as “warriors” in black suits, white shirts and skinny ties — attire that indicated to Jabarin, an Arab citizen of Israel, that they hailed from the West Bank.
Soon after the shooting, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh posted several tweets praising the attack.
An upscale retail and dining hub, Sarona Market was in April cited for security and safety violations. According to the Jerusalem Post, the problems were corrected within 24 hours. — jta
Ex-chief rabbi: Wall compromise ‘unforgiveable’
Israel’s former Sephardic chief rabbi said a landmark compromise establishing a mixed-gender prayer space at the Western Wall will “weaken Jerusalem.”
Speaking on June 5, Shlomo Amar, who is currently the Sephardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem, also referred to the liberal Jewish proponents of expanding non-Orthodox worship space at Judaism’s holiest site as “wicked” people who would “find themselves outside” the Jewish people if their lineage was examined to establish their Jewishness, the Times of Israel reported.
Although Israel’s Cabinet voted in January to expand the holy site’s non-Orthodox section to the south of the traditional plaza, haredi Orthodox parties protested the decision and no changes have been made yet. Both of Israel’s current chief rabbis oppose the compromise.
Last week, Reform and Conservative leaders said they were “frustrated” after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation. Netanyahu reaffirmed his support for a deal creating a designated prayer section for egalitarian worship, but did not promise to oppose changes demanded by his haredi Orthodox coalition partners. — jta