This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/5034

8 Israelis Murdered in Multiple Terror Attacks

August 18, 2011

Photos: Terror Attack in Southern Israel

Seven Israelis murdered in a terror attack in southern Israel. Israel's security forces on high alert. See the pictures.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146957

2 Children Among 33 Hurt in Multiple Terror Attack; 6 Dead
Arab terrorists can add two children, ages 4 and 6 to their "victory" in maiming Israeli civilians in Thursday's multiple terrorist attack. Chana Ya'ar

When Arab terrorists chalk up their day's "victory" against Israeli civilians they will be able to count two young children, ages 4 and 7, among Thursday's wounded. Two people died in the attacks against Egged Bus # 392 from Mitzpe Ramon to Eilat and a second bus. Four others were killed when a vehicle ran over a roadside bomb planted to maximize damage as IDF soldiers raced to the scene to defend and assist those who were hurt in the attacks.

The little ones were among the 33 Israelis initially taken to Eilat's small local Yoseftal Medical Center -- the closest hospital -- following the quadruple terrorist attack in Israel's southern region. Seven of the most severely wounded were later airlifted to Be'er Sheva's Soroka Medical Center.

Israeli radio stations spent the afternoon updating news reports and playing Israeli Zionist songs, a sign of national sadness in the Jewish State.

Israel has meanwhile taken the nation to its highest terror alert following the attacks, which took place along its border with Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. The terrorists apparently used automatic, anti-tank weapons, mortars and roadside bombs in the attacks that targeted on two Israeli buses and civilians and military vehicles.

All non-Palestinian Authority Arab United Nations personnel have allegedly been evacuated from Gaza due to fears that Israel will retaliate for the attack. Egypt reportedly has also closed the Rafiah crossing with Gaza.

Analysts speculate that the international Al Qaeda terrorist organization may have been involved in the multi-site operation due to its complexity and the fact that Egypt recently began to crack down on Bedouin and terrorist activities in the Sinai Peninsula, where the organization has developed training bases. The region has become a lawless territory since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak during the Tahrir Square Revolution that swept the country earlier this year.

"It is unbelievable -- the fence is several yards from the highway and when we were there on a field trip we saw a lone Egyptian guard in a tower, really less than 100 yards from the road," said an American immigrant who spoke with Arutz Sheva Thursday afternoon following the attacks.
The source, who requested anonymity, was blunt. "There is no problem to attack the highway from the Egyptian side, even with an M-16 rifle, let alone with a missle," he added.

Two weeks ago, terrorists from the Egyptian side shot and hit the jeep of a reserve battalion commander. The commander was not injured -- but the jeep was attacked from the Egyptian side of the border, according to security sources.

IDF soldiers located and killed seven terrorists who were responsible for Thursday afternoon's attack on the two Egged buses outside Eilat, security sources said. However, IDF soldiers continued to comb the area for the terrorists who carried out the attack on the civilian and military vehicles, reportedly a group consisting of 20 terrorists.

Readers who need to reach Soroka Medical Center to inquire about loved ones are asked to call the hospital's emergency information hotline at: 1-255-177

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146938

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Egged driver identified as 8th terror victim
By MELANIE LIDMAN
21/08/2011
Jerusalem Post
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=234788

Three days after the deadly series of attacks in the south of the country that left eight Israelis dead, authorities have finally identified the eighth and last victim, 56-year-old Yitzhak Sela of Beersheva, an Egged driver who was killed instantly when a suicide bomber blew himself up next to Sela's empty bus on Thursday.

Due to the many attacks on Thursday that stretched rescue resources incredibly thin and the condition of Sela's body, his identity was only confirmed on Sunday afternoon. He was buried in Beersheva on Sunday evening. Sela had worked for Egged for 26 years. The father of four, Sela also leaves behind three grandchildren. Sela was driving an empty bus towards Eilat in order to retrieve passengers taking the 397 bus from Eilat to Beer Sheva. A suicide bomber blew himself up next to the front end of the bus, killing Sela immediately and engulfing the bus in flames. The bus exploded and flew into the air, and its charred skeleton came to rest dozens of meters away from the site of the explosion. Friends told Channel 2 that Sela had often volunteered for some of the more dangerous routes, including driving around the border with Gaza and south of Hebron. "Itzhak was one of the drivers most outstanding and esteemed drivers in the Egged branch in Beer Sheva and his loss is a strong blow to all of his friends from work and to all who know him, including all the regular riders on the southern lines," said Avi Friedman, the head of Egged's southern branch.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/5034