By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Jun 26, 2005
Aviad Mantzur, 16, was pronounced dead at Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital Sunday morning after succumbing to injuries suffered in a terrorist shooting attack on a hitchhiking post in Judea Friday.
Palestinian Arab gunmen in a passing vehicle opened fire on the post after noticing several Jewish teens making their way home just hours before the Sabbath.
Avihai Levy, 17, was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. Four others, including Mantzur, were wounded.
In an effort to save Mantzur's life, doctors had amputated both of the boy's legs, but he remained unconscious and in critical condition throughout the weekend.
?You never get used to treating such young kids ? it's hard,? a Magen David Adom paramedic who arrived at the scene of the attack moments after the shooting told The Jerusalem Post.
A terror cell affiliated with PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah faction claimed credit for the fatal shooting.
Security officials said the terrorists exploited Israel's recent easing of travel restrictions on local Palestinian Arabs in order to carry out the attack.
?Without a doubt, the terrorists took advantage of the easing of restrictions to launch the attack,? Judea district commander Col. Moti Baruch told reporters near the scene of the murder on Saturday.
Israel had lowered its guard as a goodwill gesture aimed at bolstering Abbas's rule, though the ?Palestinian? leader remained adamant he would not disarm terrorists operating out of territories under his control.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said there would be no change in the government's current polices towards the Abbas regime as a result of the shooting, according to The Jerusalem Post.
A Sharon aide said the prime minister was sticking to his plan to transfer security control over Bethlehem and Kalkilya to the Palestinian Authority next week.