IDF Honors Off-Duty Soldier Who Took Down Halamish Terrorist
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by Barney Breen-Portnoy
Staff Sgt. I. — the off-duty Israeli solider who shot the Palestinian terrorist who murdered three members of the Salomon family in Halamish last month — will receive a special commendation for his action, the IDF announced on Wednesday.
The soldier — a member of the elite Oketz canine unit — is being honored for his show of “courage and judgment that prevented a graver tragedy,” the military said.
Sgt. I will receive the Divisional Commander Citation for successfully apprehending the terrorist responsible of the Halamish massacre pic.twitter.com/tDeQv8TNJe
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 9, 2017
The soldier’s father, Shimon Maoz, who went to the scene of the attack alongside his son after they heard the commotion coming from the Salomon home, will get a certificate of appreciation.
The soldier fired one pistol shot through a window to take down 19-year-old terrorist Omar al-Abed.
Al-Abed — from the nearby village of Kobar — had snuck into Halamish and entered the Salomon home, where he attacked members of the family as they were enjoying a Shabbat meal.
After being shot by the soldier, Al-Abed was detained and taken to a hospital for medical treatment. He remains in Israeli custody awaiting legal proceedings.
The death toll inside the home could have been higher if not for the soldier’s quick response. Six Salomon family members — including five children — were hiding upstairs as the stabbing spree took place down below.
In a statement on Wednesday, the soldier’s family said it had “mixed feelings” about the recognitions.
“We did our civil duty as every citizen would do,” the statement said. “We would prefer to turn back the clock to get back our dear and beloved neighbors, the Salomon family, and, at this moment, our hearts are with them.”
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