Ramat Rachel shooting attack
Encyclopedia
The Ramat Rachel shooting attack was a shooting attack carried out by Jordanian Legion soldiers, on September 23, 1956, who opened fire on a group of Israeli archaeologists near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel
. Four Jewish archaeologists were killed in the event and 16 others were wounded.
. During the tour machine-gun fire was opened on the archaeologists from Jordanian positions on the outskirts of the old city of Jerusalem. The fire killed four people, including the archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfeld, and 16 others were wounded. Another person whom was seriously injured in the shooting died eventually of his wounds five years later.
, near Bethlehem
.
Ramat Rachel
Ramat Rachel is a kibbutz located south of Jerusalem in Israel, as an enclave within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries. Overlooking Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb and situated within the Green Line, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council...
. Four Jewish archaeologists were killed in the event and 16 others were wounded.
The attack
On Sunday, 23 September 1956, a tour was held for a group of Israeli archaeologists at the archaeological excavations near Kibbutz Ramat RachelRamat Rachel
Ramat Rachel is a kibbutz located south of Jerusalem in Israel, as an enclave within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries. Overlooking Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb and situated within the Green Line, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council...
. During the tour machine-gun fire was opened on the archaeologists from Jordanian positions on the outskirts of the old city of Jerusalem. The fire killed four people, including the archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfeld, and 16 others were wounded. Another person whom was seriously injured in the shooting died eventually of his wounds five years later.
Offical reactions
: Jordan expressed regret for the incident and blamed a single soldier whom was "suddently taken by madness".- Israeli foreign ministry spokesman called Jordan's version completely unfounded, quoting witnesses at the event whom stated that two submachine guns and three Fire arms were clearly seen firing from two Jordanian army outposts across the border at the archaeologists in Ramat Rachel.
Aftermath
In response to the Ramat Rachel shooting attack, The Israeli Defence Forces carried out the Operation Lulav on September 25, 1956; the counter attack was held in the Arab village HusanHusan
Husan is a Palestinian town located north of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, nine kilometers west of Bethlehem, in the Bethlehem Governorate. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Husan had a population of 5,511 in 2007.-Etymology:...
, near Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
.
External links
- Gunfire Kills Three Israelis - Published on Milwaukee Journal on September 23, 1956
- Israel Rejects Jordan's Claim Madman Killed 3 - Published on Meriden Journal on September 24, 1956