Israeli Rabbi Succumbs to Wounds from Terror Attack

The Fellowship | March 18, 2019

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT — Mourners carry the body of 47-year-old rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, who died from his injuries sustained a day earlier during a gun and knife attack, during his funeral in the occupied West Bank settlement of Eli, on March 18, 2019. - Ettinger, wounded in a Palestinian attack that killed an Israeli soldier and injured another one in the occupied West Bank died of his injuries today , his family said. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)

One of the Israelis who was critically wounded in yesterday’s terror attack in the West Bank has passed away. Ynet News’ Yishai Porat reports on the death of Rabbi Achiad Ettinger, the head of a Tel Aviv yeshiva, a father of 12 children, and the man who bravely fired back at the terrorist even after being seriously injured himself:

Rabbi Achiad Ettinger, who was critically hurt in Sunday’s terror attack in the West Bank, has died of his wounds, his family said Monday.

According to the IDF, Sunday’s attack apparently began when 20-year-old Omar Abu Lila, from the village of Az-Zawiya, stabbed Staff Sgt. Gal Keidan at Ariel Junction in the northern West Bank, stole his rifle and then shot and fatally wounded the 19-year-old soldier.

The terrorist used the weapon to fire at three vehicles at the junction, including that of Rabbi Ettinger, a 47-year-old father of 12. According to the family, the rabbi realized he was caught up in a terror attack and opened fire on the terrorist before he himself was shot. The terrorist then hijacked a car and drove to another nearby junction, where he shot a third person before fleeing into a nearby Palestinian village, the military said.

The rabbi was critically wounded and while doctors at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva fought for almost 24 hours to save his life, he ultimately succumbed to his wounds.

The Jerusalem Post quoted Ettinger’s son-in-law Ze’ev Goldstein as praising the rabbi for his great bravery, and said the family believed that “he prevented a greater terror attack from occurring…”