Deadly Road Rampage Rattles Jerusalem

Palestinian Construction Worker Plows Into Cars, Pedestrians; Dozens Injured

(CBS/AP)  A Palestinian driving an enormous construction vehicle went on a deadly rampage on a busy Jerusalem street Wednesday, plowing into a string of cars, buses and pedestrians, killing at least three people and wounding at least 45 before he was shot dead by security officers.

The violence, the first major attack in Jerusalem since March, wreaked havoc and left a large swath of damage on Jaffa Road, a main thoroughfare in downtown Jerusalem. Traffic was halted, and hundreds of people fled through the streets in panic as medics treated the wounded.

Three Palestinian militant groups took responsibility for the attack, but the claims could not be independently verified and Israeli police referred to the attacker as a "terrorist" acting on his own. Israeli police said the man was a bulldozer operator who worked in the area for a local construction firm.

The attack took place in front of a building housing the offices of The Associated Press and other media outlets. BBC footage captured the huge frontloader crushing a vehicle and an off-duty soldier shooting the perpetrator in the head several times at point-blank range as onlookers screamed.

A half-dozen cars were flattened and others were overturned by the Caterpillar vehicle. A bus also was overturned, and another bus was heavily damaged. Israel's national rescue service confirmed three deaths. The bodies lay motionless on the ground covered in plastic.

CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reported that determining whether this attack was the work of an individual, or part of a wider plan by a militant group, will no doubt influence Israel's reaction.

Phillips said the tractor was believed to have been involved in a construction project running along Jerusalem's Jaffa Road - a major artery running through the city.

A woman sprinkled water over a baby's bloodied face, a rescue worker stroked the hair of a dazed elderly pedestrian and a loved one raised the bleeding leg of a woman sitting outside the overturned bus. Israeli TV said a woman driving a car in the frontloader's path threw her baby girl out the window to save the child. The baby escaped unscathed, but the woman was injured when the frontloader plowed into her car, the report said.

"I saw the bulldozer smash the car with its shovel. He smashed the guy sitting in the driver's seat," said Yaakov Ashkenazi, an 18-year-old seminary student.

Eli Mizrahi, an officer in a special anti-terror unit, said he and his partner sped to the scene on a motorcycle from the nearby Mahane Yehuda market in downtown Jerusalem. An off-duty soldier had just shot the attacker, but not killed him.

"I ran up the stairs (of the vehicle) and, when he was still driving like crazy and trying to harm civilians, I fired at him twice more and, that's it, he was liquidated," Mizrahi told reporters.

Esther Valencia, a 52-year-old pedestrian, said she barely escaped the carnage. "He almost hit me. Someone pushed me out of the way at the last moment. It was a miracle that I got out of there."

Sixteen-year-old Eyal Lang Ben-Hur was in a bus when the driver yelled out, "Get out of the vehicle! Everyone out!" People fled in a panic, he said, and the bus was hit an instant later.

The attack occurred in an area where Jerusalem is building a new train system. The project has turned many parts of the city into a big construction zone.

Wednesday's attack represented a chilling departure from militants' previous methods, which were mostly suicide bombings and shootings.

During the second Palestinian uprising, which erupted in late 2000, Jerusalem experienced dozens of suicide bombings and other attacks. The city has been largely quiet in the past three years, though sporadic attacks have persisted. In March, a Palestinian gunman entered a Jerusalem seminary and killed eight young students.

The three organizations that took responsibility for the attack included the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, which is loosely affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. The other two are the Galilee Freedom Battalion, which is suspected of being affiliated with Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a fringe left-wing militant group.

The Hamas militant group, which runs the Gaza Strip and is currently maintaining a fragile cease-fire with Israel, said it did not carry out the attack but nevertheless praised it.

"We consider it as a natural reaction to the daily aggression and crimes committed against our people in the West Bank and all over the occupied lands," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev called the attack a "senseless act of murderous violence."

"Those who refuse to condemn this act of terror are exposing themselves for what they really are - namely the enemies of fundamental human values," he said.

Despite the Palestinian claims of responsibility, Israeli police chief Dudi Cohen said the attacker appeared to be acting alone. "It looks as if it was a spontaneous act," he said.

Abbas aide Saeb Erekat condemned the violence.

"We condemn any attacks that target civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinians," he said.

Major Israeli retaliation seems unlikely given the police chief's claim that the attacker acted alone and the Jewish state's desire to maintain the Gaza ceasefire and to support Abbas' security forces in the West Bank.

Israeli police said the man, a father of two children in his 30s, was an Arab from east Jerusalem and had a criminal background. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said he had worked as a construction worker on the railway project.

Later Wednesday, five military vehicles gathered outside the man's two-story home in east Jerusalem. Family elders sat on the balcony, and several dozen villagers sat in front of the home.

Friends of the family identified the attacker as Hussam Dwikat, 29. They said he was a devout Muslim, but had known ties to any militant groups.

"Everybody is in shock. When I was told what happened I started to curse Hussam because this is the first time he has done something like this," said Salayan Weyed, a friend of the attacker's wife.

In contrast to West Bank Palestinians, Arab residents of Jerusalem have full freedom to work and travel throughout Israel. Many Jerusalem Arabs work in the construction industry.

About two-thirds of Jerusalem's 700,000 residents are Jews, and the rest are Palestinians who came under Israeli control when Israel captured their part of the city in 1967.

Israel's national rescue service said at least 45 people were wounded in Wednesday's attack. At one point, a paramedic lowered a screaming baby into an ambulance.

Injured people sat dazed on the ground amid piles of broken glass and blood stains on the street. A baby had blood all over its face, and the driver of the vehicle was slumped motionless over the steering wheel.

"Where's the baby? Where's the baby?" said one distraught man as he ran from the overturned bus.

Yosef Spielman, who witnessed the attack, said the construction vehicle picked up a car "like a toy."

"I was shocked. I saw a guy going crazy," he said. "All the people were running. They had no chance."

At one point, witnesses said a female traffic cop shot at the perpetrator, after which he slumped over with his eyes closed. Then he suddenly lifted himself back up and continued his rampage, the witnesses said.

Cassia Pereira, office manager for AP's Jerusalem bureau, watched the attack unfold outside her window.

"I saw him but it was too late and there was nothing to do," she said, with tears in her eyes. "I was in panic. I couldn't say a word ... I realized something was not normal, something was wrong."

The mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski, said his daughter was on one of the buses rammed by the attacker, but was not injured.

"To our regret the attackers do not cease coming up with new ways to strike at the heart of the Jewish people here in Jerusalem," Lupolianski said.

[reptilian96]

BRIT HUME, HOST: It has been more than 16 years since a civilian working for the Navy was charged with passing secrets to Israel. Jonathan Pollard pled guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage and is serving a life sentence. At first, Israeli leaders claimed Pollard was part of a rogue operation, but later took responsibility for his work.



Now Fox News has learned some U.S. investigators believe that there are Israelis again very much engaged in spying in and on the U.S., who may have known things they didn''t tell us before September 11. Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron has details in the first of a four-part series

[neoconrcrazy]

LIEberman is more an israeli than a American -

he wants US to fight their wars, support their apartheid system in thew occupied (stolen) territories -

pay for their illegal settlements -

go home joe LIeberman, you''ve done enough harm to US.

[cfin5]

From now on, I wouldn''t let any Palestinian get within a 10 foot pole of anything like this. Take that same bulldozer and doze down his mosque of choice with it. Play the same game that they choose for themselves. Its all they understand. Best thing to do is turn off the media cameras. They hate that the most thinking most Americans feel sorry for them,.....not hardly a little bit.

[terrorislamo]

REAL AMERICAN STORIES

http://www.realamericanstories.com/

[cfin5]

Posted by goodsamarata at 07:06 AM : Jul 02, 2008--- Like I said. Your choosing your own fate, not Israels.

[terrorislamo]

HUSSEIN BELONGED TO A CHURCH THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITE US,,,

HUSSEIN STAFFS HIS CAMPAIGN WITM MEMBERS OF THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN STAFFS HIS CAMPAIGN WITM MEMBERS OF THE NATION OF TERRORISLAM THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN IS A RACIST WHICH DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN IS A BIGOT WHICH DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN IS A ANTI-JEW WHICH DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

HUSSEIN IS A ANTI-AMERICAN WHICH DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US,,,

[terrorislamo]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[rafterman1]

===From now on, I wouldn''''''''t let any Palestinian get within a 10 foot pole of anything like this. Take that same bulldozer and doze down his mosque of choice with it. Play the same game that they choose for themselves. Its all they understand. Best thing to do is turn off the media cameras. They hate that the most thinking most Americans feel sorry for them,.....not hardly a little bit.===
Posted by cfin5

Interesting. You seem to think just like the terrorists do. Birds of a feather I guess...

[terrorislamo]

Posted by goodsamarata at 07:06 AM : Jul 02, 2008

ummmm please inform us,,, what religion did muhammad practice before he tried to convert to judaism???

[tastepolice]

terrorislamo=

I believe you''ve been DIVIDED from rational though for quite some time.

[nssherlock1]

I saw that movie....''Kill-dozer''.

[johnmcsame]

Israel in situated in an area surrounded by murderous muslims. To have peace in that region, America cannot have a muslim President. Obama might be better suited to lead a country like Saude Arabia or Iran where fakes and impostors are likely to be in government.

[floydzepp2]

The terrorists are the Palestinians. Not the Jews. We don''''t feel sorry for Muslim terror. They(the Palestinians) teach their young to become suicide bombers for "allah" over there. Try being intellectually honest with yourself and go do some homework on the matter.

Posted by NOTGDAmerica at 07:55 AM : Jul 02, 2008
----------

I seem to recall Irgun and the King David Hotel Bombing ordered by Terrorist Begin.

What a hoot.

Give the Palestinians back the land you stole and this all goes away.

[cfin5]

Give the Palestinians back the land you stole and this all goes away.

Posted by FloydZepp2 at 08:03 AM : Jul 02, 2008----- Apparently you don''t even listen to what your own friends say. They seek the destruction of the Jews world wide, not just in Israel. Land for peace is a LIE.

[josebcruz]

Who cares about what happens in Israel. They are not part of the United States and they SPY on us, come on people.

And a for those who feel that just because they are members of a certain religion that they need to be involved in that mess over there, then move over there and stop trying to get us into another war. Both sides are fanatics. However the fact is that that land was taken from the Palestinians in 1948 to form Israel, so who should really be angry? They are not terrorist, they are trying to get their land back. We should just stay out of this mess, its causing all of these repercussions that the United States has been going through.

[smurfcrusher]

This is a prime example of why might does not make right.

Usually the Israelis are using bulldozers to knock down Palestinian homes.

Simply because they have superior military might does not mean that they are morally correct.

They have so enraged their neighbors with their land grabs, destruction of businesses, and environmental destruction (such as the oil facilities on the Lebanese coast), that the backlash will eventually be worse than the results of negotiating in good faith.

[cfin5]

Posted by NOTGDAmerica at 08:09 AM : Jul 02, 2008---- I know. They like to forget that the land was bought and paid for by the Jewish settlers even before 1948. If the owners want a country, then it is their right to do so.

[johnmcsame]

The Palestinians are good for nothing but terror. American needs to help the Israelis in its war against muslim terrorist. It the Arabs succeed against Israel they will move on to attack American.

[johnmcsame]

The Arabs are terrorists. You do not negotiate with terrorist.

[frootloop47]

The Palestinians are good for nothing but terror. American needs to help the Israelis in its war against muslim terrorist. It the Arabs succeed against Israel they will move on to attack American.
Posted by johnmcsame
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How would you like to be forced to live in what is, for all intents and purposes, a Ghetto.

I bet you''d be the 1st one to organize you own little band of "terrorists". Palestein must be granted it''s own sovreignty.

[lib_crusher]

trying to deceive the American people into believing Israel is the aggressor.

Posted by NOTGDAmerica at 08:23 AM : Jul 02, 2008


They don''t have to work very hard. A lot of boobs in the US already think that on their own.

I think we should make a new Palestine as well....make it in h.e.l.l.!

[lib_crusher]

This is why terrorists succeed in attacking America. People don''''t speak up against other governments crimes against us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa
_WFZyN2l8

Posted by george2221 at 08:28 AM : Jul 02, 2008

LOL!! Terrorists fail 99% of the time! You guys s.uck at it...and it''s all you do. PwNeD!!!!

[smurfcrusher]

NOTGDAmerica:

If YOUR lands were threatened by officially-sanctioned land grabs funded by an alien government, I imagine YOU might resort to desperate measures. And, of course, you would want to believe god is on your side. Because when the choice is to be killed by your enemy or to take a few out with you, you would probably be inclined to do the latter.

The Jews are restricting water, fuel, food supplies to the arabs, using essentials to try and bend them to their will. If the Israelis did not control the borders, other countries would be free to engage in trade and allow businesses to thrive. It is almost reminiscent of the Israelis'' treatment in camps years ago. Hard to believe they engage in similar, though less extreme behavior, now.

The 9-11 hijackers were extremists from Saudi Arabia, mostly. They were upset that ''infidels'' were on their lands (from the first Gulf war, mainly). Religious extremists give people in positions of power the ability to rationalize anti-social behavior - such as land grabs for example.

People are people! we forget this so readily when it suits us.

[frootloop47]

I think we should make a new Palestine as well....make it in h.e.l.l.!
Posted by lib_crusher
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Palestinian/Israeli issue is more complex than that. Of course, I would expect a right wing Repug to understand that.

There are Palestinian terrorists and there are PO''d Palestinians. This bulldozer attack was not an organized terrorist attack.

[lib_crusher]

I would expect a right wing Repug to understand that.


Posted by frootloop47 at 08:35 AM : Jul 02, 2008

LOL!!! I love it when libs come crashing in, still strapped into their high chairs.

[lib_crusher]

All Palestinians should be slaughtered and their corpses buried in coffin full of pig''s blood!

[smurfcrusher]

take some meds, will ya?

[lib_crusher]

It''''s hard to outrun a bulldozer. They can reach speeds of up to 5 miles an hour....

Posted by dragonwagon5 at 08:45 AM : Jul 02, 2008

It''s unfortunate that this p.ussy aimed for a mother, carrying her baby with her back turned toward him.

He must''ve been one of those Pale''s with two dads.

[l8c6]

All Palestinians should be slaughtered and their corpses buried in coffin full of pig''''s blood!

Posted by lib_crusher


And the reason? By your logic all white american males should be executed because of the buzzed headed sociopath wanted in Illinois for randomly killing 8 people including a child and a 93 year old man. You sound like a Jew or an Evangelical faux Christian.

lib_crusher:

You are a true idiot.

Go back to sucking Cheney''s limp c*ck.

[l8c6]

Israel wants America to do a preemptive strike on Iran.

June 24, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
NBx_dlomUY

Posted by george2221

Yeah, this will be the reason to bomb Iran and Holy Jewish Joe Lieberhoe is going to see to it that pastor Hagee has all his dumb uneducated southern evangelical "Christian" boys fighting for the incredibly rich Jews in the north east.

[lib_crusher]

lib_crusher:

You are a true idiot.

Go back to sucking Cheney''''s limp c*ck.

Posted by mcdazz at 08:50 AM : Jul 02, 2008

ROFL!!! R.tards calling me stupid. LOLOLOLOLOL!

Pigs blood for you too!

[smurfcrusher]

Maybe the Israelis spy on us just to see HOW good friends we are with them.

http://cryptome.org/dea-il-spy.htm

[lib_crusher]

Just as you neocons think.

Posted by rafterman1 at 08:55 AM : Jul 02, 2008

You can''t tell from my name? I''m not a Dem you sch.muck! ROFLMAO!!!!

[antoniof123]

Not likely since his religion says homosexuality is a serious sin. Just as you neocons think. You know, the mroe and more I listen to neocons, the more similarities I see between you and the Muslim terrorists. Your views are almost identical in so many cases. Interesting.

Posted by rafterman1 at 08:55 AM : Jul 02, 2008

Agreed. The worst part they both think they are right.

LOL....

[lib_crusher]

Too bad for you, your Mofohammed god is so weak. He lets you rot in the Persian desert while God''s chosen few live in the chosen land. And Mofohammed was gay...big time!

[mcvet]

You can''''t tell from my name? I''''m not a Dem you sch.muck! ROFLMAO!!!!

Posted by lib_crusher at 08:57 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abuse

You CAN tell from your name that your a brain dead Joe McCarthy want to be! You losers have NO solutions for the MESS created by the Fascist Republican''s. You have NO direction this nation can take to exit the quagmire we''re in. You have NO solution for a Military so extended they couldn''t defend this nation against an attack... In short all you freaks have now is what you had when Old Joe was alive and kicking... HOT AIR! Now stand... let''s hear it!! SEIG HEIL GRAND WIZARD!!

[griking]

Clearly the solution is to ban bulldozers

[lib_crusher]

SEIG HEIL GRAND WIZARD!!

Posted by MCVet at 09:01 AM : Jul 02, 2008

And here it is....over and over again...all day long. LOL! Nothing to say, just "seihg hail, segg hall"! You probably say this in your sleep, McFarts.

[lib_crusher]

You losers have NO solutions for the MESS created by the Fascist Republican''''s. You have NO direction this nation can take to exit the quagmire we''''re in. You have NO solution for a Military so extended they couldn''''t defend this nation against an attack...

Posted by MCVet at 09:01 AM : Jul 02, 2008

Nice job, McFarts! You just described Hussein Obama''s entire campaign! ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!

[l8c6]

lets face it .....zionist are criminal thugs to say the least ......remember the freaking gay parade in the holy land.....they want to make jerusalem modern day sodom and gomorrah....

Posted by shazam96



Hmm, maybe I''ll join the zionists and fight the true infidels. The Evangelical Christian right should be licking your bu*tt.

[mcvet]

3.) Who flew airplanes into our buildings in the USA on 9-11-01 killing over 3,000 innocent American citizens, Muslims, or Jews?


Posted by NOTGDAmerica at 08:54 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abus

Ummm! Now I know you poor nazi''s have a hard time with this but the person responsible for that attack?? HE''s in a SAFE HAVEN created by your fuhrer in PAKISTAN. Maybe if you ask a third grader they can explain the difference?? I doubt it but there is always hope. Now folks ask your self if THIS it the kind of people YOU want leading this nation. They haven''t changed in 50 years... in my day they were screaming kill them all when referring to Blacks, now its Kill them ALL when referring to Muslims!! We already know where this train stops and it ain''t good for the country...that''s for sure!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[lib_crusher]

but now referring to any right wong extremist such as yourself.

Posted by rafterman1 at 09:04 AM : Jul 02, 2008

Nah, you don''t get to change the definition fu.k ***! A Dem is a Dem....no matter how you slice it. BTW, 99% neocons are Jews. Are you a Jew hater?

[frootloop47]

Who''''s providing electricity, food, and water to the Arabs(Palestinians) to begin with? the Muslims, or the Jews?


Posted by NOTGDAmerica at 08:57 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks just one of the many problems there. Israel has Palestine in a struggle hold. When Israel wants they cut of trade, water, cross border travel, etc.

Another thing you may not realize is, Hezbollah, although being a terrorist organization also supplies, hopital, and other services to Palestine. (Thus winning support)

It a very complicated issue. We''re not going to come up with any solutions on THIS blog.

[lib_crusher]

SIEG HEIL Hitler!!

Posted by MCVet at 09:05 AM : Jul 02, 2008

McFarts!!!! Only two posts and this 30 times already. Nice work pudd-stain!

[l8c6]

no matter how you slice it. BTW, 99% neocons are Jews. Are you a Jew hater?

Posted by lib_crusher

Not sure if it''s true or not but wouldn''t be surprised. The neo con ideology is very divisive, deceitful and tribal.

[lib_crusher]

very divisive, deceitful and tribal.

Posted by l8c6 at 09:09 AM : Jul 02, 2008

Yeah, just like your mom''s legs!

[kennedy7955]

This intifada thing is really working out for the Palestinians. Israel stole the land from the Palestinians but the Palestinian reaction is going to be the end of them. I don''t understand what keeps the Israelis from putting a dozen Howitzers outside Gaza and dropping 100 shells each time there is a missile attack.

[lib_crusher]

MCVet

I think

Posted by george2221 at 09:10 AM : Jul 02, 2008

McFarts''s watching some gay p.orn now. He''ll be back later!

[faith_in_w]

Liberals are now calling for restrictions on bull dozer sales.