World Jewish News

Sharon Zucker kissing his newborn son, who was born hours after West Bank shooting on September 26, 2010 Photo by: Ilan Asayag (haaretz.com)

Israeli woman gives birth within hours of being shot in West Bank attack

Palestinian gunmen opened fire on two Israeli cars near the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday evening, lightly wounding a man and his pregnant wife.
Sharon and Neta Zucker drove themselves to a nearby junction where they hailed down a police car on patrol, who took the couple to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Both suffered gunshot wounds to their legs.
Soon after they arrived at the hospital, the woman underwent a caesarian section and gave birth to a son.
"This was not how I planned to bring a child into the world," said Sharon Zucker.
The second car targeted by the gunmen evaded fire altogether. No militant group has claimed responsibility yet for the shooting and police were still searching for the gunmen's car. The attack occurred just hours before Israel's temporary construction freeze in West Bank settlements was set to expire.
Later Sunday evening, an Israeli police officer was lightly wounded when he was hit in the head by a rock thrown by Palestinian demonstrators in East Jerusalem. The officers were in the area breaking up a fight between local residents.
Also on Sunday, Palestinians hurled firebombs at Border Police officers patrolling in an East Jerusalem parking lot.
None of the officers was wounded in the incident, but three Palestinians were detained for questioning. Three others firebombs were found in the immediate vicinity.
On August 31, four Israelis were killed after Hamas terrorists opened fire on their cars on Route 60 in the West Bank. The four victims were residents of the Beit Hagai settlement.
In a separate attack a day leader, two Israelis were wounded - one of them seriously - when Palestinian gunman ambushed their car near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar, east of the West Bank city of Ramallah.
That spate of shootings coincided with the launch of U.S.-backed direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Washington. The Islamist Palestinian faction Hamas have come out vocally against the talks, claiming responsibility for the shooting attacks and warning of further attacks.

By Chaim Levinson and Anshel Pfeffer

Haaretz.com