Ofer Gamliel (archives)
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Prisoner visits son injured in terror attack
Accompanied by Prison Service official, but without handcuffs, member of extreme Jewish group Ofer Gamliel arrives at Jerusalem hospital to visit seven-year-old child hurt in Thursday's axe attack
Ofer Gamliel, who is serving a 15-year jail term, left the prison building on Friday morning in order to visit his seven-year-old son Yair, who was moderately injured in a terror attack
Thursday at the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin.
Thirteen-year-old Shlomo Nativ was killed in the attack, which was carried out by a Palestinian terrorist running wild with an axe.
The Israel Prison Service decided to allow Gamliel to visit his son at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. IPS officials said that Gamliel initially refused to leave the prison handcuffed and accompanied by wardens, and his request for a special leave was rejected. He received a promise that the handcuffs would be removed once he arrived at his son's room.
Gamliel eventually arrived at the hospital accompanied by an IPS official but without handcuffs.
Arriving at hospital (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)
The Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital reported of significant improvement in child's condition, which is now defined as light. He was transferred to the children's surgical ward for further observation.
Ofer Gamliel was convicted of attempted murder in September 2003, after trying to blow up a cart along with two of his friends near an Arab hospital and a girls' school in east Jerusalem in April 2002.
The attack was thwarted after the explosive device was detonated by sappers, after it raised the suspicion of police officers passing by. Gamliel was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The community's residents told Ynet that the Gamliel family has been living in Bat Ayin for many years. According to the residents, the father never took a leave from prison, but his family visited him. Friday was the first time Yair saw his father outside the prison walls.
Raanan Ben-Zur contributed to this report
