Genady Kaufman fought hard for life, but an Arab blade has carved a new statistic: Israel’s 25th terror casualty since October.
Kaufman, 40, was repeatedly stabbed in the chest in a terror attack December 7 outside Hebron’s ancient Cave of the Patriarchs in Judea. He was critically wounded barely a ten minute walk from his home in nearby Kiryat Arba.
The terrorist was shot dead on site by security forces.
Doctors battled to save him after his arrival at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. He was placed on a respirator and since that time has been in the intensive care unit. But the fight ended early Wednesday morning (Dec. 30) when Kaufman succumbed to his wounds.
Just two days after the attack on Kaufman, another Arab terrorist stabbed two Israeli men – one of them an IDF soldier – in the Hebron Jewish neighborhood of Beit Hadassah.
That terrorist was a cousin of the killer who murdered Genady Kaufman. He too was shot and killed by a Hebron security officer, but not before he had a chance to hurt two Jews.
The soldier was seriously wounded. The second victim was the son of former Knesset member Orit Strook; he fended off the terrorist until he was neutralized by security personnel.
Hebron is a focal point in what is becoming a repeat of the War of Attrition that took place decades ago, and which may once again need to be fought — this time Israel and the Palestinian Authority.