Jewish Media Summit takes participants to Gush Etzion

By ALAN SMASON, Special to the CCJN

Gush Etzion was defended by Jewish settlers on the eve of the declaration of the Jewish State in 1948.  Several hundred Jewish patriots were overrun and killed by segments of the Jordanian army, which took control of the settlement for the next 19 years, losing control of the land following the ill-advised attack in the 1967 Six Day War.

Member of the Knesset Zeev Elkin shows reporters from where he believes three Israel teens were absucted.

In more recent days, though, Gush Etzion has stood for something more.  It is the place where three teenagers were abducted at a bus stop in a “very organized” attack according to Zeev Elkin, the head of the Defense and Foreign Committee of the Knesset. Elkin met with reporters and editors in Gush Etzion to show them the actual site of the kidnappings thought to be carried out by members of the Hamas terrorist organization.

“We know who the people are who are responsible for this attack,” Elkin said, who labeled terrorist attacks against non-military personnel as “unacceptable.”

The bus stop is situated in an affluent section of Gush Etzion resettled in 1967. Although details remain very sketchy, it is thought the three boys were stopped by the terrorists, who were driving a car outfitted to appear to be a police wagon. A car matching the description of one seen in the area at the time of the abduction was allegedly found nearby, completely burned. It is suggested that the kidnappers fled with their captives to nearby Hebron, but despite exhaustive searches, no trace of the three young men has been found.

Israel Defense Forces are still maintaining a heavy presence in the area, but announced a gradual stepping down of its contingents. Over 350 arrests of Paltestinans by Israelis have occurred since the attack.