Israel Matzav

Sheikh for Shalit's home firebombed

The home of a Bedouin Sheikh who has been actively involved in trying to bring about the release of kidnapped IDF corporal Gilad Shalit was firebombed on Sunday.

The Sheikh, Salam Hozeil of Rahat, has moved his family elsewhere. For more than a year, Hozeil has single-handedly conducted a public campaign demanding that Hamas terrorists release Shalit and often has been threatened by radicals within his own community. On Sunday, the threats against Hozeil took a new and dangerous turn, with unknown assailants throwing the firebombs at one of the bedrooms of Hozeil's home in the Negev Bedouin city of Rahat, while his family was at home, sleeping.

No one was injured in the attack, but the next day Hozeil took his family to live at the home of relatives, instead of chancing another attack Monday night.

"The room where the firebombs hit was completely destroyed," Hozeil told reporters. "The children were all sleeping. It's a miracle no one was hurt," he said.

Hozeil attributed the attack to a report on Israeli TV last week in which Hozeil was featured as a guest at a rally held on behalf of Shalit at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, on the occasion of the kidnapped soldier's 23rd birthday. "Many people who had not heard of me before saw that story, and apparently the attack was carried out by those who are unhappy that I am working on behalf Shalit, an Israeli Jewish soldier, " he said.

Tolerance, 'Palestinian' style.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:57 PM