IDF Demolishes Homes of Terrorist Stabbers

IDF soldiers demolished overnight Sunday the homes of the families of Issa Yassin Yussuf and Anan Mohnammed Saleh Hamad, two terrorists from Kalandiya who were responsible for the murder of two Israelis in a terror stabbing attack in December outside the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Yerushalayim.

The two victims were Rabbi Reuven Biermacher, Hy”d, who was stabbed to death by the terrorists, and a security officer, Ofer Ben Ari, z”l, who was caught up in crossfire as security officers sought to take down the terrorists. Rabbi Biermacher, a resident of Kiryat Yearim (Telshe Stone), was returning from davening at the Kosel.

Rav Biermacher, originally from Argentina, was a rebbi in Yeshiva Aish HaTorah’s Spanish program. Police said that Rav Biermacher had been stabbed 23 times.

Arabs rioted as security forces demolished the homes, throwing rocks and stones at officers. Six Arab rioters were injured.

On Monday morning, security forces arrested two Arabs who were found to be carrying large amounts of ammunition and firecrackers. The materials were found when the car was pulled over for a security check. The three passengers, residents of an Arab neighborhood of Yerushalayim, were taken into custody.

Overnight Sunday, security officials said they arrested 15 wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.