Israeli Woman Barely Escapes Ambush

A 66-year-old Israeli woman said she was “lucky to be alive,” after making it through a roadside ambush by dozens of Arab rioters on her way home from Yerushalayim to Beitar Illit on early Sunday afternoon.

Riva Schertzman related the horrifying tale to Arutz Sheva: As she was driving along the winding road near the Arab town of Husan, she was suddenly confronted by dozens of masked Arab rioters, armed with massive rocks, waiting at the side of the busy road.

“I saw a lot … about 40 of them … and I thought, ‘Oh no, I’m in trouble.’”

Because of traffic behind her and no room to turn around, she had no choice but to step on the gas and drive as fast as she could past the mob. She sounded her horn in an attempt to alert other drivers to the ambush —and then was subjected to “the most terrifying experience I have ever been through.”

“I just took my hand and covered my head and just rode, ducking, with my hand on my head.

“The sensation was like … it was literally like a rain of rocks. Pieces of construction material — big rocks, even bricks,” she recalled.

“There must have been 20 rocks bouncing off my car. I have never experienced such a terrifying moment like that. … I was fortunate that they didn’t block the road as well or G-d knows I wouldn’t be talking to you now.”

B’chasdei Shamayim, she escaped uninjured, though her car was badly damaged.

There was no question that she was targeted as a Jew. As Schertzman noted, the rock-throwers let an Arab driving in front of her pass by undisturbed.

After driving a while longer she reached Beitar, where she immediately alerted security guards, who called the military.

Meanwhile on Sunday, government ministers voted to endorse a bill to increase punishment to up to 20 years in prison for throwing rocks and other dangerous objects at vehicles.

In the capital, too, rock throwing continued on Sunday. One was directed at a bus on Suleiman Street, near the Old City and another in East Talpiot, in the southern part of the city.

Laws on the books call for only up to two years’ jail time for acts of stone throwing.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the November 3rd, 2014 edition of Hamodia.