Israel captures Elad terrorists after four-day manhunt

IDF, Shin Bet and Israel Police say in a joint statement As’ad Alrafa’ani and Sabhi Abu Shakir were caught hiding behind a bush in a quarry near Elad, exhausted and dehydrated; 'We promised we will lay our hands on them, and so we did,' Bennett says
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Israel on Sunday said it has captured the two terrorists who carried out the deadly attack in the predominantly Haredi city of Elad last week.
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  • As’ad Alrafa’ani (19) and Sabhi Abu Shakir (20), both from Rumana near the city of Jenin, stabbed three people to death with an axe and a knife on Thursday evening before fleeing the scene and prompting a massive manhunt.
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    Footage of the capture
    (Video: Shmulik Dodfour)
    The two were apprehended on Sunday morning hiding behind a bush in a quarry near Elad, having not eaten or drunk any water for nearly 60 hours with the axe used in the attack lying meters away.
    The two were caught by special forces and commando units using helicopters and other means.
    "The two terrorists who murdered three Israeli civilians in the deadly attack in the city of Elad have been caught," said in a joint statement the IDF, Shin Bet and the Israel Police.
    The two had been detained and taken for further questioning by the security forces.
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    המבחלים שנתפסו
    המבחלים שנתפסו
    Elad terrorists being captured
    Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai praised security forces for nabbing the two terrorists responsible for the deaths of Yonatan Havakuk, 44, Boaz Gol, 49, and Oren Ben Yiftah, 35, all fathers who leave behind 16 orphans.
    "The manhunt for the terrorists is over. Our intense activity immediately after the terror attack, using hundreds of security personnel, forced them to hide in one spot, and that is what lead us to them," Shabtai said.
    "We said we won't rest until they are captured. Every terrorist must know that Israel's reach is long and we will find anyone who will harm the citizens of the Jewish State. We are determined to continue fighting terror, and I thank all the security personnel who went through sleepless nights in order to capture the terrorists."
    Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also praised the security forces in the wake of the successful operation. "We promised we will lay our hands on them, and so we did," he said at the start of the cabinet meeting.
    2 View gallery
     ישיבת ממשלה
     ישיבת ממשלה
    Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a cabinet meeting on Sunday
    "These terrorists were incited to brutally murder with unimaginable cruelty and they were captured wretched near a forest in the area. But their capture isn't enough, we are on the verge of a new stage in the war against terror. We won't allow inciting others from afar without consequences," Bennett added, referring to Hamas officials in Gaza.
    At least 18 Israelis have been killed in five attacks since March, including another stabbing rampage in southern Israel, two shootings in the Tel Aviv area, and a shooting last weekend in a West Bank city of Ariel.
    Nearly 30 Palestinians have died in violence - most of whom had carried out attacks or were involved in confrontations with Israeli forces in the West Bank.

    Associated Press contributed to this report
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    9.
    now is time to go after the commanders,& terror stops(2)
    ... continued, The fact that Ottomans extremists built that house there is just an accident, in 1600 years since the destruction of our holy temple, and the forced exile of our people to all corners of the world, bu the Roman extremists, many others conquerors came there, the Christian crusaders for example were there in the 12th century, (thus 400 years before the Ottomans!). They could well have built any house of their god there, Buddhism and Hindu and Confuzi were already well established religions by the 16th century. They could have come and built their house on our mount Moriah. Now, to say that because Confuzi and Buddhists came and built their house of idol worshipping there, Jerusalem was supposed to be a Bhudist city, or Confuzi city is ridiculous! The same is for the Muslim house of idol worshipping! That house does not make Muslims connected to Jerusalem as a religion. They are still connected only to MEKKA it is there where their god is. The idea that their god and prophet Mohamed ascends into heavens from Jerusalem is a farse and falacity (suggested to Muslim btw by an unfortunate Jewish person, who was stooped however from telling them the real truth and for good reason!). That Souls ascend into heavens only from Hébron (that is why our Patriarches and Matriarch are buried there!), not from Jerusalem. From Jerusalem, the G-D of the Jews accepts only burnt offerings, nothing else! This is only a place of prayers, not for souls to ascend into heavens! So their god, the Muslim go returned back to MEKKA, this is where he is. Now if Muslims want to have the Jewish G-D as their G-D, they need to convert into Judaism, there is no other way. Or stay like with tier god, like Hindus, Buddhists confuzi, they never pretended to have the G-D of Jews as their god, and they leave in peace with the Jews! do the same! go to MEKKA! and have peace!
    Dan| 05.09.22
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    8.
    and now…
    and now, they and their families will enjoy a pension for life, while awaiting the next kidnapping and exchange, in comfort paid for by the israeli taxpayer. bennett and company must find a suitable deterrent or these attacks will continue.
    shloime| 05.08.22
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    7.
    Bravo for capturing the murderers. Now...
    1) Demolish their homes 2) Deport the entire family to Gaza or Syria 3) Sentence each of the murderers to 3 consecutive life terms in solitary confinement. 4) No conjugal visits, No physical touching. No in-person visits from anyone, One phone call a month for 10 minutes. These killers must understand that the penalty will be a lifetime of loneliness, without any opportunity to end it, except by their own hands. While the victims died quickly, these murderers will die very, very slowly, by themselves. Alone. Just as their victims' families will have a lifetime of loneliness, so will these murderers.
    David| 05.08.22
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