‘I knew we’d get him,’ says father of victim after TA gunmen killed

Relatives of victims of a shooting attack carried out by Arara resident Nashat Milhem in Tel Aviv last week expressed relief on Friday at news of the terrorist’s death in an exchange of fire with security forces.

Israeli political leaders hailed the security forces for the operation.

The father of one of Milhem’s victims said he had no doubt that the security forces would track down the gunman.

“This is our consolation, and we are pleased that none of our own were hurt in disarming him. I was sure we would get him,” says David Bakal, whose son Alon, a manager at the Simta, was killed in the shooting at the bar on January 1.

Nati Shaked, one of the owners of the Simta bar and Bakal’s former boss, told Army Radio that the killing of Milhem gave him “hope” that terrorists will maybe realize that they cannot defeat Israel violently.

“We had a rough week. Killing the terrorist gives some hope that maybe they’ll realize on the other side that terror will never defeat us.”

Chief of Police Roni Alsheich said the police would continue to work to expose any and all others who had helped Milhem before and after the shootings. “All of those involved in terrorism,” he said, “should know that we have the means, the determination and the patience to find them all.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the security forces for bringing down Milhem.

Netanyahu congratulated the Shin Bet security service, Israel Police and special police forces who “worked tirelessly, systematically and professionally until they found and disarmed the terrorist.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said the killing of Milhem “proves once again that the State of Israel will hunt down those who seek to harm it.”

Israel will go after those who act against it “anywhere inside and outside the country,” Ya’alon said.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman, leader of the opposition’s most hawkish party, commended security forces, but said that additional arrests in Israel’s Arab community during the manhunt to catch the terrorist showed that the attack was not a lone-wolf incident.

“The fact that there are other persons who assisted the terrorist puts an end to ridiculous statements about one crazy lone-wolf attacker,” Liberman was quoted by the Walla news website as saying. “This calls for a root canal treatment of radicalized forces in Arab society in Israel.”

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog hailed the operation’s conclusion: “The IDF, police and security forces proved again that those who dare to turn to terror will be found and punished with the utmost severity,” Herzog wrote on Facebook. “I congratulate [the security forces] for their committed actions, and trust them to keep protecting Israel’s citizens. Finding the terrorist is no comfort for the terrible pain of the Bakal, Ruimi and Shaaban families, but it is important that the security forces continue act to speedily return security to Israel’s streets.”

Said Yesh Atid party chief Yair Lapid: “The security forces proved once again today that they will do everything to ensure the citizens of Israel can sleep peacefully. I congratulate the Shin Bet and the police on an outstanding operation. Anyone who tries to harm Israeli citizens needs to know that they will be brought to justice.”

Security officials wanted to catch Milhem alive, as the Shin Bet assessed after interrogating other people for allegedly helping Milhem hide that the killer may have been part of a sleeper cell working for Islamic State, a Sunni terror group.

He was shot when he tried to resist arrest and fired at security forces who had him cornered in a building in his hometown of Arara. Milhem killed a police dog during the gun battle with cops, before he was shot and killed.