Americans Nearly Lynched in Hebron; Saved by Palestinian Man

Friday, September 04, 2015 | Israel Today Staff

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Five American Jewish students were nearly lynched in Palestinian-controlled Hebron on Thursday after taking a wrong turn while en route to pray at the Cave of the Patriarchs, burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

After finding themselves in the wrong part of town, the Americans were set upon by a mob of stone-throwing Muslim youth. As the mob drew closer, the young visitors frantically fled on foot, leaving behind their car, which was promptly torched.

A kindly Palestinian man who heard the ruckus and rushed outside. He reassured the Americans, two of whom had by then suffered light-to-moderate injuries, and brought them into the safety of his home.

“I heard shouts outside, I left my house and saw the five Jews hurriedly leaving their car, which was attacked by stones,” Faiz Abu Hamadiah told Israel’s NRG news portal. “They were very nervous, and one was injured and bleeding from his face. I told them in Hebrew that it will be okay, I gave them water, and I helped the injured man.”

Hamadiah sheltered the young Americans in his home while sending family members to notify the nearby IDF checkpoint, which sent soldiers to extract the Jewish youth.

Responding to questions about whether he feared being labeled a “collaborator,” Hamadiah bravely replied: “I did the right thing. The people that threw stones at them and torched their car did a bad thing. We need to live here together.”

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