Arab Is Killed After Slaying Israeli Soldier

A Palestinian worker angry over unpaid wages killed a soldier on guard duty at a Jewish settlement Monday, and an Israeli farmer then shot the assailant to death, witnesses reported.

The Palestinian shouted “Allahu akbar!” (God is great) as he stabbed the soldier, Jewish settlers said at the Massua cooperative farm 26 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

According to the army, the 21-year-old attacker approached the soldier about 9 a.m., drew a knife and “stabbed him repeatedly, at least a dozen times.”

Tanya Ben-Ami reported seeing the attack from the nearby farm office. “In the beginning there was a struggle,” she said. “In the end, (the Arab) just kept stabbing all the time. He didn’t stop.”

Slain by Farmer

She said a farmer on leave from army reserve duty was with her, ran to get his gun and opened fire after the Palestinian picked up a chair and threatened him. Ben-Ami said the farmer “didn’t have a choice. He shot him.”

Settlers said the Palestinian attacked after the soldier requested additional identification. The army spokesman said the Palestinian had worked at the farm and and was angry about not receiving back pay of 170 shekels, about $100.

The slain soldier was identified as Cpl. David Danieli, and the Palestinian’s papers said he was Ahmed Hussein Abdullah Basharat of Tammun village, near Janin. Residents said he stopped working at the settlement, or moshav, in September.

Danieli was scheduled to end his monthlong reserve duty at Massua today.