Eliyahu Asheri
Encyclopedia
The murder of Eliyahu Asheri was a terror attack which carried out on June 25, 2006, in which Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees
(PRC) militants kidnapped, and later murdered the 17 year-old Israeli high school student Eliyahu Asheri.
The attack occurred only a few hours after the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit
that led to Operation Summer Rains.
of Itamar
, in the northern West Bank
. He was a student at the religious pre-army Mechina Elisha in Neveh Tzuf.
.
On June 28, the group threatened to execute him if Israel did not suspend its Operation Summer Rains into the Gaza Strip
, which took place is in response to the kidnapping of Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) corporal Gilad Shalit
. Asheri was last seen in the French Hill
intersection of Jerusalem.
On June 27, Abu Abir, the spokesman for the Palestinian Resistance Committees, said "[Asheri] is a soldier in a pre-military academy", and that Asheri would be "butchered in front of TV cameras" if Israel did not meet its demands.
Early on June 29, the IDF confirmed it recovered the body of Asheri which had been buried in an open field near Ramallah, shot to death, and possibly the same day he was abducted. The IDF had been led to the site by the murderer, who had been arrested in an IDF raid earlier the same morning.
cell with links to the PLC, but later it became known that the kidnapping was planned and carried out by Fatah
members.
Jewish cemetery in Jerusalem.
Popular Resistance Committees
The Popular Resistance Committees are a coalition of various armed Palestinian factions that oppose the conciliatory approach adopted by the Palestinian Authority and Fatah towards Israel...
(PRC) militants kidnapped, and later murdered the 17 year-old Israeli high school student Eliyahu Asheri.
The attack occurred only a few hours after the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli – French citizen and Israel Defense Forces soldier. On 25 June 2006, he was captured inside Israel by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid via underground tunnels near the border with Gaza. The Hamas militants held him for over five years, until he was released on...
that led to Operation Summer Rains.
Background
Eliyahu Pinchas Asheri (February 2, 1988 – June 25, 2006) was an Israeli student from the settlementIsraeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
of Itamar
Itamar (town)
Itamar is an Israeli settlement located in the West Bank's Samarian mountains five kilometers southeast of Nablus. The predominantly Orthodox Jewish community with a population of 1,032 is within the municipal jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council...
, in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. He was a student at the religious pre-army Mechina Elisha in Neveh Tzuf.
The kidnapping and the murder
On Sunday, June 25, 2006, Eliyahu was kidnapped while on his way from Beitar Illit to Neveh Tzuf, northwest of RamallahRamallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
.
On June 28, the group threatened to execute him if Israel did not suspend its Operation Summer Rains into the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, which took place is in response to the kidnapping of Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) corporal Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli – French citizen and Israel Defense Forces soldier. On 25 June 2006, he was captured inside Israel by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid via underground tunnels near the border with Gaza. The Hamas militants held him for over five years, until he was released on...
. Asheri was last seen in the French Hill
French Hill
French Hill , also Giv'at Shapira is a neighborhood in northeastern Jerusalem. It is located on territory occupied during the Six-Day War in 1967, later annexed to Israel under the Jerusalem Law in 1980...
intersection of Jerusalem.
On June 27, Abu Abir, the spokesman for the Palestinian Resistance Committees, said "[Asheri] is a soldier in a pre-military academy", and that Asheri would be "butchered in front of TV cameras" if Israel did not meet its demands.
Early on June 29, the IDF confirmed it recovered the body of Asheri which had been buried in an open field near Ramallah, shot to death, and possibly the same day he was abducted. The IDF had been led to the site by the murderer, who had been arrested in an IDF raid earlier the same morning.
The perpetrators
The Popular Resistance Committees initially claimed responsibility for the attack, and an initial Shin Bet investigation revealed that the abduction was carried out by a TanzimTanzim
Tanzim is a militant faction of the Palestinian Fatah movement.-Overview:The Tanzim militia, founded in 1995 to counter Palestinian Islamism, is widely considered to be an armed offshoot of Fatah with its own leadership structure...
cell with links to the PLC, but later it became known that the kidnapping was planned and carried out by Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
members.
Burial
Asheri was buried on the same day his body was found, during the afternoon hours on the Mount of OlivesMount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
Jewish cemetery in Jerusalem.
External links
- Militants hold second Israeli hostage - published on The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
on June 28, 2006 - Militants threaten to kill abducted settler - published on New York Times on June 28, 2006
- Asheri shot in head Sunday immediately after abduction - published on the Jerusalem Post on June 27, 2006
- Debkafile report on abduction - published on debka.com
- Terrorists Threaten to Butcher Kidnapped Teenager on TV - published on israelnn.com
- Israel finds body of missing settler - published on ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
- The Asheris Mourn their Son Eliyahu - published on israelnationalnews.com