IDF preps demolition of supermarket terrorists' homes

Omar Rimawi and Ihad Sabah attacked two Israelis at West Bank store, killing an off-duty soldier; Sabah died after shot at scene

The IDF on Friday prepared to demolish the homes of two teenage Palestinians who carried out a deadly stabbing Thursday at a West Bank supermarket.

Palestinians Omar Rimawi and Ihad Sabah, both 14 from Beitunia near Ramallah, were identified as the two terrorists. They were shot by an armed civilian who rushed to the scene after hearing screaming. Sabah died of his wounds. Rimawi remains hospitalized.

It wasn’t clear from the Channel 10 report Friday night when the two Beitunia homes were to be demolished. Security forces claim that the practice of house demolitions has the potential to deter possible attackers, but the policy has come under fire recently from the European Union.

Rimawi and Sabah attacked two Israeli men at a supermarket near Ramallah Thursday, killing an off-duty Israeli solder who was also an American citizen.

Tuvia Yanai Weissman with his wife Yael and four-month-old daughter. Weissman was stabbed to death by Palestinian terrorists at a West Bank supermarket on February 18, 2016. (Facebook)

Tuvia Yanai Weissman, 21, who was married with a 4-month-old daughter, was laid to rest in Jerusalem on Friday morning. He was a resident of the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Mikhmas.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed that Weissman was a US citizen. Toner condemned the attack, saying there was no excuse for terrorism. He said the attack underscores the need for Israelis and Palestinians to reject violence, reduce tensions and restore calm.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place yesterday in the West Bank that resulted in the death of US citizen Tuvya Weisman,” said the statement from Toner.

“There is no justification for terrorism,” the statement said. “This horrific incident again underscores the need for all sides to reject violence, and urgently take steps to restore calm, reduce tensions, and bring an immediate end to the violence.”

Weissman and his wife were childhood sweethearts, who married two years ago.

Weissman was on a week-long leave from the army when he was attacked, and so was without a firearm.

Security footage from the attack showed that three Palestinians sought to enter the supermarket. A security guard turned one away, but allowed the other two in without a physical check.

In a Channel 2 interview, Yael Weissman said her husband ran to help when they heard a scream — as the two Palestinian assailants stabbed their first victim, a man in his mid-30s who was seriously wounded. “He had no weapon,” said Yael, “but he ran to help.”