Father-of-four murdered in West Bank stabbing attack ‘lived and died as a hero’

Tributes have been paid to a father-of-four Ari Fuld, who was stabbed to death attack outside a shopping mall near Efrat in the Etzion bloc of the West Bank.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, tweeted: “America grieves as one of its citizens was brutally murdered by a Palestinian terrorist. Ari Fuld was a passionate defender of Israel & an American patriot. He represented the best of both countries & will be deeply missed. May his family be comforted & his memory be blessed.

The 45-year-old was a dual American-Israeli citizen, who was assistant director of Standing Together, a non-governmental organisation that provides support for Israeli soldiers.

Ari’s brother, Hillel Fuld, a well known hi-tech guru, wrote on his Twitter account, “He lived as a hero and died as a hero. My big bro is gone. Thanks for the messages. Really. Just looking for oxygen now.”

He lived as a hero and died as a hero. My big bro is gone.

Thanks for the messages. Really. Just looking for oxygen now…https://t.co/uupt1nQGIP

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) September 16, 2018

The attack happened shortly before noon on Sunday, when a Palestinian teenager stabbed him outside a shopping mall near Efrat, at the Gush Etzion Junction south of Jerusalem. Fuld chased after his attacker and shot him before collapsing to the ground. A civilian bystander also shot at the attacker, identified Khalil Jabarin, 17, from the West Bank village of Yatta near Hebron.

• READ MORE  – Sarri Singer:   Ari Fuld died as he lived – a selfless hero helping to protect others 

He died at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, after resuscitation efforts failed. His attacker was taken Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus in Jerusalem where he is in moderate condition with multiple gunshot wounds.

Haaretz cited a source close to the Jabarin family as saying that the teen informed his parents that he planned to carry out an attack at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The family told security forces about their son’s plan but could not find him near the tomb.

Fuld was well known for his social media posts defending Israel and its military and was set to speak in The States over a series of talks as well as launch a new Israel advocacy website in English.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid his respects, tweeting: “With his last strength, Ari fought heroically against the terrorist and prevented a greater tragedy. Ari was a wonderful father to four children. He was an advocate for Israel who fought to spread the truth about Israel. May his memory be a blessing”

Other politicians were also quick to pay their tributes. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who heads the national-religious Jewish Home party, wrote on his Twitter account, wrote: “With a stab wound in the back he ran, drew his gun and fired before collapsing, just to make sure the terrorist would not continue to hurt others”, while Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova said: “My deepest condolences to the family of Ari Fuld — may his memory be blessed — who showed incredible courage and who chased after the terrorist despite his injuries.”