Soldier A. awarded citation
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Soldier who shot Halamish terrorist awarded military citation
IDF awards citation to soldier for displaying ‘courage, determination, initiative, composure’ while neutralized a terrorist brutally massacring members of the Salomon family as they ate Shabbat dinner; father also receives certificate of appreciation.
The IDF soldier who neutralized the terrorist who last July brutally murdered three members of the Salomon family in their home in Halamish was awarded a military citation Tuesday during a ceremony in Ma’ale Adumim.
His father Shimon also received a certificate of appreciation for taking action to stop the massacre by entering the home of the family.
IDF soldier awarded citation (צילום: אלי מנדלבאום)
The murders occurred on July 21 when 19-year-old Omar al-Abed from the nearby village of Kobar broke into the Salomon’s home in the settlement of Halamish (Neve Tzuf) on a Friday evening and stabbed four people as they celebrated their Shabbat meal.
Soldier A. awarded a citation (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Three of the victims—Yosef Salomon, 70, and his children Haya Salomon, 46, and Elad Salomon, 35—died of their wounds while Yosef's wife Tovah Salomon, 68, was seriously wounded in the attack.
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The soldier, who is identified as ‘A’ and serves in the elite Oketz canine special forces unit, heard the screaming and shot the terrorist through the window, bringing the bloodletting to an end.
A.'s father Shimon receives certificate of appreciation (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Al-Abed left his village to carry out the attack one hour and forty minutes after posting on his Facebook page a message announcing his intentions and explaining his reasons: “Jews are defiling al-Aqsa,” he wrote.
On the citation, A. is praised for showing “courage, determination, initiative, composure” and for “fearlessly taking action.”
Prior to receiving the citation, a short clip about A. was shown to the attendees during which he said, “I don’t think what I did was exceptional.”
Speaking at the ceremony, GOC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa praised the father and son for “displaying fortitude and courage of heart,” which he said “prevented a serious disaster.”
The terrorist arrested at the scene of the attack
The IDF, he continued “is blessed to have soldiers like these. Shimon, you are an example of exemplary citizenship. You gave an example to your son in the values you gave to your family ... From this stage we remember the Salomon family, Haya, Yosef and Elad. May their memory be blessed.”
