Israeli Settler's Massacre in Hebron: Widening the Rift in Peace Talks

Palestinian families were left to mourn the deaths of scores of relatives killed by an Israeli settler at the ancient mosque in the West Bank town of Hebron, casting a shadow over the prospects for peace in the region. A commercial strike was observed across the occupied territories and in Arab towns within Israel to mourn the 59 people killed, including 39 by the gunman, Dr. Baruch Goldstein, and 20 from army gunfire during rioting afterward. The event has led to demands for international forces to be stationed in the West Bank and Gaza to keep the settlers at bay and for the Jews living alongside them to be disarmed.

Key Takeaways:

• 59 Palestinians were killed on Thursday, with 39 killed by Dr. Baruch Goldstein and 20 by army gunfire during rioting.
• Dr. Baruch Goldstein, an American immigrant, was clubbed to death by Palestinians after running out of ammunition.
• He used a Galil assault rifle to fire around 100 shells, and authorities said two border policemen were supposed to be at their posts outside the mosque but failed to show up.
• The Israeli Cabinet met in emergency session and decided to pay compensation to the families of those killed and to prevent residents of Kiryat Arba from leaving the settlement for at least 48 hours.
• The army clamped a tight curfew on the town of Hebron and prevented relatives from outside the town from paying condolence calls.
• A group of 15 residents of Kiryat Arba was turned back by the army when they tried to visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Statistics:

• 59 Palestinians killed, including 39 by Dr. Baruch Goldstein and 20 by army gunfire.
• 100 shells fired by Dr. Baruch Goldstein using a Galil assault rifle.
• Approximately 2,000 members of the Peace Now movement held a torchlight procession past Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's Jerusalem residence, demanding that settlers be disarmed and extremist anti-Arab groups be banned.
• 15 residents of Kiryat Arba turned back by the army when trying to visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Sources:

• Israel Radio interview with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres
• Israel Television report on the Hebron massacre
• The Palestine Liberation Organization's call for the stationing of international forces in the West Bank and Gaza
• The Israeli Cabinet meeting to discuss the massacre and potential compensation for the victims' families
• The Israel Radio report on the torchlight procession held by members of the Peace Now movement