Jewish Settler Kills 29 Palestinians in Hebron Mosque Massacre
Baruch Goldstein opens fire on Muslim worshippers at Cave of the Patriarchs, threatening to derail Oslo peace process.
A Jewish settler opened fire on Palestinian Muslim worshippers during dawn prayers at Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs today, killing 29 people and wounding over 125 in one of the worst massacres in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The attacker, identified as Dr. Baruch Goldstein, a 38-year-old physician from the nearby settlement of Kiryat Arba, entered the mosque section of the holy site wearing an Israeli army reserve uniform and opened fire with an automatic rifle. He was beaten to death by survivors after his weapon jammed.
The massacre, occurring during the holy month of Ramadan at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the West Bank, has sent shockwaves through the region. Riots erupted across the occupied territories, with Israeli forces killing several more Palestinians in clashes.
PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat has suspended peace talks with Israel, demanding international protection for Palestinians and the removal of settlers from Hebron. The massacre threatens to unravel the fragile Oslo Accords signed just five months ago.
Prime Minister Rabin condemned the attack as a “murderous act” and banned the extremist Kach movement, but rejected Palestinian demands for removing Hebron’s 450 Jewish settlers living among 120,000 Palestinians.
The attack has exposed deep divisions in Israeli society over the peace process, with some extremist settlers hailing Goldstein as a hero while the mainstream recoils in horror. Palestinian militant groups have vowed revenge, raising fears of a new cycle of violence.