Cave of the Patriarchs massacre
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The Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, also known as the Mosque of Abraham massacre or the Hebron massacre (see Hebron massacre (disambiguation) for other uses of the term), was a mass-murder, which occurred on February 25th, 1994 at the Cave of the Patriarchs, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
At 5 AM. on the morning of the Purim holiday, 800 Palestinians passed through the east gate. [#endnote_shamgar15] Kahanist Baruch Goldstein, entered the Isaac Hall of the cave and, opening fire, killed 29 Palestinians and injured another 125. After being subdued, Goldstein was beaten to death by survivors. [#endnote_archives824] [#endnote_frishtik] [#endnote_minutes] [#endnote_pathologist]
Aftermath
- Angry Arab mobs began rioting in the aftermath of the massacre, which led to the deaths of 26 more Palestinians and 9 Israelis.
- Many attacks directed towards Jews in prayer have occurred there, and the Israeli Defence Force has forbidden Palestinians from entering the area at various points in time.
- All over the Middle East, Arabs rioted, attacked Jewish communities, and staged protests.
- The Cave of Machpelah wad divided into two sections, one for Jewish worshippers and the other for Muslim worshippers. The section for the Jewish worshippers includes the Abraham Hall, which is also used for Brit Mila (male circumcision) ceremonies, and the Jacob Hall. A Yeshivah has also been set up. Numerous Jewish religious services take place every day in this section of the Cave. The section for Muslim worshippers includes the much larger Isaac Hall. On 10 days in the year the entire cave is for the exclusive use of Jewish worshippers and on ten other days in the year for the exclusive use of Muslim worshippers.
- On March 7, Hamas threatened suicide attacks against Jewish settlers unless the settlements of Ariel, Kedumim, Qiryat Arba, Tekoa and Gush Katif were evacuated. None of these settlements were evacuated at that time.
Israeli Response
- Goldstein's actions were immediately condemned by the Israeli government and the populace in general.
- Spokespeople for all of the organized denominations of Judaism denounced his act as immoral.
- The Kahane Chai party, to which Goldstein belonged, was outlawed by the Knesset.
- The cabinet agreed to take away the weapons of right-wing extremists and put them in administrative detention.
- The victims of the shooting received financial compensation from the Israeli government.
Shamgar Commission
The Israeli government appointed an official commission of inquiry headed by then president of the Supreme Court, Judge Meir Shamgar. It found that:- Goldstein acted alone in planning the massacre, telling no one of his scheme. [#endnote_mfa]
- Coordination between the IDF, the police, and the Civil Administration was problematic.
- The political leadership and security forces could not have been expected to predict the massacre.
- Testimony from survivors referring to IDF assistance and grenade explosions in the massacre was found to be contradictory and inconsistent; investigators did not find any grenade fragments. [#endnote_mfa]
References
- ↑ Report of Shamgar Commission p. 15; Timetable of Events, Exhibit 14, (ISA 7645/1-1/gimmel)
- ↑ Evidence of Al-Mutlab Natshe, Cave of Machpelah, 25 February 1994, Exhibit 245, (Israel State Archives 7645/1-7/gimmel); Exhibit 824, op. cit.
- ↑ Evidence of Al-Mutlab Natshe, Hebron Police Station, 31 October 1994, (Frishtik file)
- ↑ Minutes of Shamgar Commission p. 2109
- ↑ Pathologist’s Report, 27 February 1994, Exhibit 1094, (Israel State Archives 7647/3-25/gimmel); see also Exhibit 162, p.2, op. cit.
- ↑ Middle East Journal, Chronology, vol 48, no 3 (Summer 1994) p511ff.
- ↑ Commission of Inquiry Into the Massacre at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron - [Excerpts from the Report]
- ↑ Report of Shamgar Commission pp. 79, 223
- ↑ Clipping from Yediot Achronot, Exhibit 680, (Israel State Archives 7646/2-14/gimmel); Yediot Achronot, 25 February 1994, supplement, p.6; see also submission no. 42, op. cit.
External references
[The Massacre: A Dictionary] on Ynet
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