News from Hebron
The Hebron Press Office
October 1, 2000

UPDATE: At 10:30 p.m. shots were fired from the Harat al-Shech hills at the direction of Beit Hadassah and Beit HaShisha, . No one was injured. A few minutes later shots were fired from the Abu-Snenah hills in the direction of the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Bullets were heard ricocheting off walls of one of the buildings in the neighborhood. No one was injured.
Hebron leader Noam Arnon issued the following statement:

We demand that Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin resign their present positions as ministers in the Barak government, to be judged by the people of Israel for their role in Oslo and the continuing tragic loss of life. They gave weapons to Arafat's terrorists and are responsible for the violence that has erupted, which will eventually blossom into the next war.

These people, Peres, Beilin, Pundek, and Hirschfeld, are personally responsible for the escalation in violence. They are responsible for Jewish lives in Hebron. If one Jew is injured, they will be held responsible. We will pursue them using every legal and public forum available. They gave rifles to our enemies and must face the consequences of their actions.

Violence erupts in Hebron
Late Friday afternoon, on the eve of the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana, violence erupted in Hebron. Rocks and fire-bombs were hurled at Israeli security forces guarding the borders between the Arafat-controlled area of Hebron and the Israeli-controlled Jewish neighborhoods. Burning tires were rolled into Jewish neighborhoods in the city. The violence continued on Saturday and Sunday. At various times the road leading to the Jewish neighborhood Tel Rumeida, was closed, due to rock-throwing and fire bombs. Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets at the rioters. One Arab was reportedly shot and killed after shooting at Israeli soldiers. The booms of rubber bullets and stun grenades could be heard constantly.

On Saturday afternoon, when several families were walking up the Tarpat Road to Tel Rumeida, they were attacked by Arabs throwing rocks. Arabs in a nearby house used mirrors to reflect sunlight, blinding soldiers on the road. Several Arab "journalists" who were filming the attacks, acted as a human shield, protecting other Arabs who hurled fire-bombs at the Hebron residents. A two-year old girl was hit by a rock but was not badly hurt.

As Hebron leaders were meeting tonight, a fire-bomb was hurled at an Israeli military outpost guarding the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Israeli soldiers shot at the attackers. No one was hurt.

In spite of the violence, hundreds of people from Hebron and Kiryat Arba, including scores of visitors, celebrated the New Year worshiping at Ma'arat HaMachpela and the Avraham Avinu synagogue in Hebron. Everyone participated in the traditional "Tashlich" ceremony late this afternoon, walking to the "Adam Spring" on the outskirts of Tel Rumeida.

However, many of the guests are still stranded in Hebron and Kiryat Arba because the Israeli military forces have closed almost all roads in Judea, Samaria and Gazza, including the road from Kiryat Arba to Jerusalem.

On Friday afternoon Hebron youth distributed apples and honey to Israeli soldiers serving in Hebron. Apples and honey are traditionally eaten on the Jewish New Year, signifying wishes for a sweet year. Pictures can be viewed on the Hebron Web Site: at http://www.hebron.org.il