Israeli Ambassador's Son Critically Injured in Terror Attack; Family Welcomes New Grandchild

Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, arrived at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem on Thursday to be with his son, Neria, a reservist who was critically wounded in a car-ramming attack at a checkpoint on Route 443. Neria, a resident of Havat Yair in the Samaria region, was part of a security detail when a terrorist drove into him. This injury comes three years after the family lost another son, Major (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, who fell in combat in the Gaza Strip in November 2023. Doctors reported that Neria underwent a complex, hours-long brain surgery and that his condition is stable but critical, with his life still in danger. Ambassador Leiter, who was in New York preparing for the Prime Minister's UN visit, described his anxious journey back to Israel, expressing relief that doctors had stabilized his son's condition. He contrasted the current situation with the loss of Moshe, noting that while Moshe was killed instantly, there is now hope for Neria's recovery. Amidst the family's distress, there was a moment of joy as Leiter's elder daughter, Sarah, gave birth to a baby girl in the same hospital where her brother is being treated. Sarah, whose husband is a battalion commander in the reserves, went into labor during a visit to her injured brother.

Neria's mother, Chani, spoke of the shock and disbelief the family is experiencing, emphasizing that they are "clinging to life." She described Neria's central role in supporting the family since his brother's death. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Neria in the hospital before departing for the US and urged the public to pray for his recovery. The public has been asked to pray for Neria Dov ben Chana for his complete recovery.