An Israeli Rabbi, Raziel Shevach, 35, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting by Palestinian terrorists as he travelled on Route 60 near Havat Gilad, where he lived, in the so-called West Bank.

The attack took place around 8pm on Tuesday, 9 January 2018.

Paramedics from the town of Kedumim, a short drive from the scene of the attack, arrived to find a car parked on the side of the road with bullet holes across the windscreen. They found a semi-conscious Raziel inside with gunshot wounds to his upper body and neck and after administering first aid, they transferred him to Meir Medical Centre in Kfar Saba.

 

His wife Yael spoke to Ynet on the phone while she made her way to the hospital: “He called me and said ‘they have shot me. Order an ambulance.’ I’m still horrified by the ease with which they shoot us like this. We’re on the way to the hospital and we still don’t know what his situation is. I ask everyone to pray for him.”

Clearly she was speaking before his fate was confirmed, and unfortunately, when she arrived at the hospital she received the news of her husband’s passing.

Rabbi Shevah and his wife Yael have six children: Renana, 10, Naomi, 8, Miriam, 6, Malka, 5, Ovadia, 3, and Benayahu, only 10 months old.

Speaking the following day, Yael said, ”Raziel asked that if anything were to happen to him, that he be buried in Havat Gilad,” Yael Shevah said. “We will honor his request and bury him in the settlement he so loved and was active in. This was his will. I call on and ask the entire people of Israel to come and accompany dear Raziel (on his final journey).”

The manhunt for the perpetrators of the attack took place throughout the night, with IDF troops from the Kfir Brigade’s Nahshon Battalion along with other forces searching the area surrounding Havat Gilad, with the search mostly focused on Palestinian villages west of Nablus.

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot arrived at the scene of the attack on Wednesday morning and was briefed by commanders in the area.

“Our main focus at the moment is on locating and arresting the terror cell, and preventing additional attacks alongside making preparations for continued operations in the area,” Eisenkot said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the shooting, expressing his condolences to the family.

“My deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the family of Raziel Shevah, who was murdered by a lowly terrorist. Security forces will do everything in their power to locate the heinous killer and the State of Israel will bring him to justice,” he said.