Yonatan Havakuk, 44, Boaz Gol, 49, and Oren Ben Yiftah, 35, have been named as the victims of the gruesome terrorist attack that took place in the Haredi city of Elad, in central Israel, on Thursday night. Two of those wounded in the attack are said to be in critical condition and doctors are fighting for their lives.
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As the manhunt for the terrorists continues, security forces have asked for the public's assistance in locating the assailants, identified as As'ad Alrafa'ani, 19, and Sabhi Shajir, 19, from the Romana village near the West Bank city of Jenin.
"The police, in cooperation with the Shin Bet security agency and other special forces units, have been carrying out increased activity in the Elad area since last night [Thursday], using all the technological means at their disposal with the aim of apprehending the Jenin residents suspected of carrying out the attack in Elad," the police said in a statement.
The attack, which took place as Israelis celebrated the country's 74th Independence Day, brings to 17 the number of Israelis killed in the wave of terror that erupted in March.
According to Elad Council Member Yaniv Bedlov, his demands for armed guards to be stationed at a checkpoint at the entrance to the city as well as increased police patrols over the holiday fell on deaf ears over a month ago.
"I saw this attack coming. Not only was the writing on the wall, but it was etched there, too," Bedlov told Israel Hayom.
He said: "For a long time now, security in the city has been neglected. There are no fences despite everything around it being Arab villages. The residents are crying out for security. There is a lot of construction here, and as a result, there are a lot of Arab workers. No one checks them. I was at the park with my family two hours before the attack. We were saved by the grace of God."
Elad Mayor Yisrael Porush rejected the accusations, saying, "Security forces assured us the situation was safe. City police are on high alert and there is an armed guard at every school and kindergarten," he told Army Radio.
"On a day like this, when we bury our dead, I won't comment on petty politics. We are a city inside the Green Line - we don't have a security fence. In the current [security] situation, there is uncertainty everywhere.
"Security forces are dedicated and they are doing their job. We also have dozens of social workers, psychologists, and volunteers who are ready to help the residents of Elad cope with the tragedy."
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