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Commentary: Mourning Israel's Innocents

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- It seems one no longer needs a bulldozer to kill Israelis. Any old car will do. Friday morning, Israelis learned a second victim of Wednesday's car attack succumbed to his injuries.

Shalom Ba'adani, 17, a student at a Torah seminary (yeshiva), was riding his bicycle to the Western Wall when an Arab Kamikaze driver ploughed into pedestrians at a light rail train stop near the Old City.

Ba'adani was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and later identified as the grandson of a prominent rabbi. He was laid to rest Friday morning, with thousands in attendance.
 
The teen's death doubles Wednesday's fatalities. Superintendent Jadan Assad, a senior officer with the Border Police from the northern Druze village of Beit Jann, was laid to rest on Thursday. He is survived by his wife, who is five months pregnant, and a 3-year-old son.

Three times in the past two weeks, Palestinian terrorists ran over pedestrians with cars. Two weeks ago, a three-month-old infant and a 22-year-old woman were killed.

Some are so enamored with the concept of Kamikaze drivers they've created cartoons of road signs showing cars hitting people. One shows a vehicle that's half car and half automatic rifle.

During last summer's Operation Protective Edge, the tzeva adom (color red) app let Israelis know where and when people were taking cover from incoming rocket attacks. There were days when the alarm sounded tens of times around the clock.

The Egyptian-mediated ceasefire ended the military operation against Palestinian rocket fire, but it didn't end terror attacks, especially in Jerusalem. In fact, they seemed to increase.

These days, SMS texts keep people updated on the latest rock, firebomb and vehicular attacks.

Fridays almost always brings protests on the Temple Mount, sometimes following Muslim prayers.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Jordan's King Abdullah by phone the status quo on the Temple Mount would remain.

"I explained to him that we're keeping the status quo on the Temple Mount and that this includes Jordan's traditional role there, as consistent with the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan," Netanyahu told reporters. "We have to make every effort to restore calm, quiet and security, but I think we have to make that effort throughout the world."

Translated that means Jews will not be allowed to pray openly there, hopefully reducing the motivation to riot. By late Friday morning, the situation appeared to have quieted down.

As Shabbat begins, some will spend time with injured family or friends. Others will visit those mourning the loss of loved ones at the hand of people who would rather kill than live.

At sunset on Friday, Israelis of all persuasions will welcome the peace and rest the Sabbath brings even in the most difficult times.

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About The Author

Tzippe
Barrow

From her perch high atop the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, Tzippe Barrow tries to provide a bird’s eye view of events unfolding in her country. Tzippe’s parents were born to Russian Jewish immigrants, who fled the czar’s pogroms to make a new life in America. As a teenager, Tzippe wanted to spend a summer in Israel, but her parents, sensing the very real possibility that she might want to live there, sent her and her sister to Switzerland instead. Twenty years later, the Lord opened the door to visit the ancient homeland of her people.