Esti and Shalom Yaniv, the parents of Hallel and Yagel Yaniv, (H”YD) who were killed in a shooting attack in the PA village of Huwara two weeks ago, reacted to the elimination of the terrorist responsible for murdering their children.
“Over Purim we received a notification about the elimination of the despicable terrorist. We thank the security forces who worked night and day to exact justice on him. A stone was removed from our hearts when we heard that the terrorist was eliminated and not arrested. We will continue to remember Hallel and Yagel as happy, good and beloved children,” said the parents.
“Despite the difficulty, we feel that G-d is beside us, leading us and we are grateful that this Purim, mourning turned into joy, and we took some comfort in the fact that the terrorist is no longer alive.”
Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, praised the security forces. “I spoke with the commanding officers and praised them as well as our brave soldiers who eliminated the cowardly terrorist hiding like a scared rabbit in the heart of Jenin,” he said.
“Dear IDF soldiers, today you returned the smile and part of our national honor to the people of Israel. The settlement movement in Samaria and the entire Israeli people love you, thank you, and support you,” added Dagan.
22-year-old Hallel Menachem Yaniv and his brother, 20-year-old Yagel Yaakov Yaniv, were shot and killed while driving through the Arab village of Huwara on Route 60, the primary north-south traffic artery in Judea and Samaria on Sunday, February 26.
The two were hesder (pre-army) yeshiva students, and were killed while driving back to their yeshivas from their home in Har Bracha.