A Daily Analysis By Marc Schulman March 6, 2008 A Difficult Day in Israel

A very difficult day in Israel began today at dawn when a patrol along the Gaza border was attacked by a roadside bomb. The bomb, similar to the bombs that American forces face in Iraq, killed one soldiers while a second lost both his limbs. The soldier killed was a Bedouin tracker from a village in the Negev. The family asked that the soldiers name not be announced since his service in the IDF was more or less a secret in his village.
This evening a single terrorist entered Yeshivat Mercaz Harav, a religious Zionist yeshiva which is located near the entrance of Jerusalem. Once entering, he started shooting at anyone who could. He walked into the yeshivaÌs library and killed many who were studying there. Eight were killed and another eight were wounded. The terrorist was finally killed by army officer who lives nearby.

It has been four years since such a terrible attack has taken place in Jerusalem. Initial word is that the terrorist came from the Arab neighborhood Jabal Mutachta, which is located in East Jerusalem near the Jewish neighborhood Armon HaÌnatziv. There is no fence or anything else that could have stopped him from entering the central Jerusalem.

Most of the Palestinians are celebrating the attacks. Palestinian leader Abbas has given his normal condemnation of all violence against civilians. For the moment, a little known group that is made up of Israeli Arabs has claimed responsibility. That claim is taken with a grain of salt by Israeli sources so far.
To add to the troubles, eight rockets hit southern Israel today. One house in Sderot suffered a direct hit which wounded four.
Apparently today is the day of "eight". Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, perhaps filled with eight happy newsworthy stories. The name of the Israeli national anthem is "HaÌtikvaha" meaning hope. Now is a good time to start hoping for better things to come.