Two Israelis were killed in two separate Palestinian terrorist attacks this morning - and the two victims will be buried this evening.

It was originally thought that there might have been a connection between the two attacks, but Shomron Brigade Commander Col. Har’el Knafu revealed at a briefing today that they were in fact not carried out by the same organization. “The only connection between them is that in both cases the terrorists came from Shechem,” he said.

Shortly after 9:00, the first suicide bomber blew himself up inside a supermarket in the N’vei Afek neighborhood of eastern Rosh HaAyin. Yechezkel Yekutiel, 43, a repairman from Rosh HaAyin, was killed while making purchases, and will be buried this evening in the Yarkon Cemetery. Eight people were wounded, some seriously - though their condition was downgraded to light-to-moderate by early evening.

Arutz-7’s Kobi Finkler reports that the terrorist entered from the back of the mall, while guard was in front. An eyewitness gave the following report: “I was a few steps away from the building when I heard a tremendous boom. I didn’t know what it was, but I instinctively ran towards it and saw inside the store smoke, fire, and a burnt body - apparently the terrorist. One woman, I think she’s the manager of the store, was trying to help the people there, but I told her that she was hurt herself and I carried her out. Then I helped another 2-3 people get out, but there was one young man who tried to pick himself up, but couldn’t - and I couldn’t get to him because of the fire…”

Less than an hour after that attack, Erez Hershkovitz, 18, of Elon Moreh, was murdered in a suicide bombing attack at a bus stop outside the Shomron city of Ariel. He was buried this evening in Elon Moreh. Two people wounded in the attack are fighting for their lives: a man who was hit in the head by shrapnel, and a woman in serious condition.

The IDF imposed a curfew on Kalkilye today, and a total closure on the city of Shechem.

Eyewitnesses to the Rosh HaAyin attack reported to the police the type of car that apparently dropped off the terrorist, and even its license number. The car was in fact spotted at a checkpoint outside Kalkilye shortly afterwards, and the driver, a resident of Shechem, was taken for interrogation. The police originally suspected that the driver may have dropped off not only “his” terrorist, but also the one in the Ariel attack and even possibly an additional one as well.

Israel Police established an intensive terror alert throughout the Sharon region this morning, and reduced it towards the afternoon. Police Chief Shlomo Aharonishki said that the police had general information about eight more possible upcoming terrorist attacks, and declared a high alert throughout the country.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2003 and is filed under hotnews.