A Jewish settler soldier opened fire on bus passengers in a Druze neighborhood of the Israeli Arab town of Shfaram in northern Israel Thursday afternoon. Four people - the driver another male and two women - were killed and five injured, three of them critically. Israeli sources said the Jewish terror attack was carried out by a religious soldier from the West Bank settlement of "Tapuah." This settlement is one of the most extreme Jewish settlements, dominated by supporters of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated expelling Arabs from Israel and the West Bank. Kahane was assassinated in New York in 1990.
The 19-year-old soldier was said to be a radical right wing activist, who refused to take part in the upcoming Israeli pullout from Gaza Strip and the northern West bank, reports said.
Following the shooting, angry residents boarded the bus and killed the shooter.
According to Haaretz, dozens of locals threw stones and bottles at the bus before killing the shooter.
Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon denounced the shooting as "a despicable act by a bloodthirsty terrorist."
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to prevent Jewish settlers from carrying weapons "because they (the settlers) are dangerous to the security and peace."
MK Mohammed Barakeh (from Hadash-Ta'al party) classified said "We are witnessing attempts by extreme right wing people, terrorists, who want to set the region ablaze and feel they have freedom of action in light of the behavior of the security, political and judicial establishment."
