Shepherd Discovers Hamas Terrorist Monument in Samaria; Settlers Demand Demolition
A shepherd grazing his flock in the Samaria region of the West Bank discovered a monument honoring a senior Hamas terrorist responsible for the murder of 11 Israelis. The monument, located in the area of Givat Tsan Aviv'ezer overlooking Nahal Kana, was erected in memory of a Hamas operative involved in a series of deadly attacks.
Investigations by residents of Givat Tsan Aviv'ezer revealed the monument commemorates a Hamas terrorist, identified as part of a cell led by Nasser Assida, who carried out the horrific 2001 bus bombing in Emmanuel. That attack killed 11 Jews and wounded approximately 30 others. The cell had previously conducted attacks in the area, including one near the settlement of Yitzhar that killed two security patrolmen.
Following the Emmanuel massacre, the Israeli military engaged in a prolonged firefight with some cell members hiding in the ancient site of Khirbet Jar'a, between Yitzhar and Emmanuel. One terrorist was killed, with others eliminated years later. After the death of terrorist Muhammad Haj Ali, residents of the nearby village of Jama'in reportedly erected the monument and designated the strategic ridge as the "Land of Martyrs."
Residents of Givat Tsan Aviv'ezer, established about a year ago to reassert Jewish control over the ridge, had been aware of the monument's existence but unable to locate it until the shepherd's discovery this week. They are now demanding the immediate demolition of the monument by the IDF.
Settlers in the area described a significant shift in the region, stating that Jewish shepherds have replaced terrorist cells that previously hid in the area. They expressed a determination to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state, asserting that the presence of the monument is a disgrace to Israel and a painful reminder of past lawlessness. They also cited the Oslo Accords as creating dangerous "black holes" that facilitated terrorist activity and pointed to a previous discovery of a pirate firing range used by terrorists in a cave nearby.
