Terrorism victim’s parents witness sealing of killer’s home

Prior to carrying out the attack, the married father of four reportedly posted multiple comments on his Facebook page praising ISIS.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: MARCH 24, 2017 01:51
Shir Hajaj (photo credit: Courtesy)
Shir Hajaj
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Two months after a Palestinian mowed down 21 soldiers in a Jerusalem truck-ramming attack, killing four who were trapped beneath its wheels, police on Wednesday sealed the east Jerusalem home of the terrorist responsible for the carnage.
On January 8, Fadi al-Qanbar, 28, from Jebl Mukaber, drove a flat-bed truck into the unsuspecting soldiers as they were exiting a bus on the Armon Hanatziv promenade, killing Lt. Shir Hajaj, 22, of Ma’aleh Adumim; cadet Erez Orbach, 20, of Alon Shvut; cadet Shira Tzur, 20, of Haifa; and Lt. Yael Yekutiel, 20, of Givatayim.
Prior to carrying out the attack, the married father of four reportedly posted multiple comments on his Facebook page praising ISIS.
On Wednesday morning, Merav and Herzl Hajaj, whose daughter, Shir, was one of those murdered, joined the cadre of heavily armed police who cordoned off the area surrounding Qanbar’s two-story residence to witness concrete being poured to seal the home.
Jerusalem District police chief Asst.-Ch. Yoram Halevy approved the Hajaj family’s request to be present. Additionally, Halevy met privately with each of the deceased soldiers’ families to keep them updated on the investigation.
While Herzl Hajaj conceded that the operation did not assuage the pain of losing his daughter, he said he hopes it will nonetheless serve as a deterrent against future attacks.
“It won’t bring Shir back, but it might stop future terrorists,” her father told Ynet. “I can’t say I’m happy, and I’m not really satisfied. Perhaps if this policy of demolishing homes was implemented sooner, I wouldn’t have become a bereaved father.
“I have to praise the Jerusalem Police and the district commander who really embraced us today and accompanied us throughout the entire process,” he said. “They took us to his home and explained to us how it would be sealed off, and supported us during the difficult moments.”
Days following the attack, the Interior Ministry initiated plans to revoke the residential status of 12 of Qanbar’s family members. Interior Minister Arye Deri said the move is intended to send a firm message to other potential terrorists who exploit receiving state benefits.
“From now on, anyone who plots, plans or considers carrying out an attack will know that his family will pay a heavy price for his actions,” Deri said at the time.
“This decision signals a new era against terrorism and terrorists who carry out terrible attacks against civilians. From now on, there will be no tolerance shown to anyone involved in attacks against Israel – including their relatives.”
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Thursday that home demolitions of terrorists will continue. “


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