1983 Hebron University attack

Zionist terrorist attack yes March 2025 Hebron University, West Bank, Palestine 26 July 1983 Zionist terrorism, school shooting, mass murder, revenge killing 3 30+ Jewish Underground Revenge for murder of Israeli student 3 Life imprisonment, later reduced to 10 years Murder The 1983 Hebron University attack was a mass shooting carried out by a right-wing terrorist organization known as the Jewish Underground at Hebron University, Palestine, on 26 July 1983 following the murder of a yeshiva student by Palestinian attackers. Three Palestinian students were killed and over thirty wounded. Three members of the Jewish Underground were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the attack, but later had their sentences reduced multiple times, eventually to 10 years, by President Chaim Herzog. Background Israeli–Palestinian conflict Timeline of Hebron Israeli settler violence The Palestinian West Bank has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War in 1967. During the occupation, a number of Israelis have constructed illegal settlements in the West Bank. The West Bank city of Hebron has been a particular flashpoint of conflict. On 7 July 1983, Aharon Gross, an 18-year-old yeshiva student, was stabbed and murdered by three Palestinians in a marketplace in Hebron. In response to the attack, Israeli general Ori Orr ordered Mayor of Hebron Mustafa Natshe as well as the elected Hebron city council removed from their positions, accusing them of encouraging a "series of hostile terrorist acts and breaches of public order," and replacing them with an Israeli-appointed official.8 July 1983 ISRAELI STUDENT IS SLAIN IN HEBRON; ARAB MAYOR AND COUNCIL OUSTED https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/08/world/israeli-student-is-slain-in-hebron-arab-mayor-and-council-ousted.html Bernstein Richard 28 November 2024 The New York Times In the following days, a group of Israeli settlers burnt down the marketplace in retaliation.27 July 1983 Spiral of West Bank violence -- an eye for an eye for an eye ? https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0727/072752.html Rubin Trudy 28 November 2024 CS Monitor Events Shooting Around midday on 26 July 1983, at least two people jumped out of a car and entered Hebron University, wearing keffiyehs and carrying Kalashnikov rifles. They threw a grenade into the university building and opened fire indiscriminately on students gathered in the university's courtyard for lunch, before fleeing.26 July 1983 Masked gunmen fired automatic rifles and hurled hand grenades... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/26/Masked-gunmen-fired-automatic-rifles-and-hurled-hand-grenades/8666428040000/ Laytner Mel 28 November 2024 UPI Three of the students were killed and over thirty injured. The three killed were identified as Saad Adin Hassan Sabri, Jamal Saad El Adin Nayal, and Samir Fatih Daoud.27 July 1983 3 SLAIN AS GUNMEN ATTACK HEBRON ISLAMIC COLLEGE https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/world/3-slain-as-gunmen-attack-hebron-islamic-college.html Bernstein Richard 28 November 2024 The New York Times The injured were treated at Princess Alia Governmental Hospital, Hebron.27 July 1983 Eyewitness Report a Murderous Attack in Hebron https://www.jta.org/archive/eyewitness-report-a-murderous-attack-in-hebron 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Investigation Immediately after the attack, Israeli officials pledged to open a full-scale investigation. Israeli general Ori Orr, however, stated that "We don’t know who we are looking for," and stated that the military did not see an immediate link between the attack and the murder of Aharon Gross, despite claims by some Palestinians that the attack came in retaliation.28 July 1983 Full-scale Probe Launched into the Killing of Three Arab Students at a College in Hebron https://www.jta.org/archive/full-scale-probe-launched-into-the-killing-of-three-arab-students-at-a-college-in-hebron 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Israeli officials initially stated that the attack might have been a result of Palestinian internal political violence, particularly fighting between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Islamist groups. In October 1983, Israeli Minister of Defence Moshe Arens stated that the existence of a Jewish terrorist group could not be discounted and that "not having found the criminals as yet, I'm not ready to tell you that they're Arabs and that it couldn't possibly be that they're Jews."23 October 1983 'JEWISH TERRORISM' A NEW ISSUE FOR ISRAEL https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/23/world/jewish-terrorism-a-new-issue-for-israel.html Shipler David K. 28 November 2024 The New York Times The previous month, his brother, University of Bridgeport international law professor Richard Arens accused him of failing to investigate the attack.21 September 1983 Arens' Brother Delivers a Scathing Attack on Israel https://www.jta.org/archive/arens-brother-delivers-a-scathing-attack-on-israel 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Trial In June 1984, the trial of the Jewish Underground members began. In July 1985, three were convicted for the attack on Hebron University, Menachem Livni, Uzi Sharbaf, and Shaul Nir. All three were sentenced to life imprisonment.22 July 1985 3 Jewish Terrorists Get Life, 12 Others Receive Light Terms : Court in Israel Issues Sentences for Anti-Arab Attacks https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-22-mn-6076-story.html 28 November 2024 Los Angeles Times11 July 1985 JEWISH SETTLERS ARE CONVICTED IN TERROR CASES https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/11/world/jewish-settlers-are-convicted-in-terror-cases.html Friedman Thomas L. 28 November 2024 The New York Times When speaking to journalists after being sentenced, Livni claimed that "An injustice was done," asking "How can a government abandon citizens and their lives while giving criminal punishment to the defendants?" Nir stated that "There is only one master of the universe and he'll know how to take care of things."10 July 1985 15 Jewish settlers found guilty of terrorism https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/10/15-Jewish-settlers-found-guilty-of-terrorism/3789489816000/ Greenberg Joel 28 November 2024 UPI Sharbaf was the son-in-law of the Gush Emunim settler movement figure Moshe Levinger.20 June 1984 Jewish Terrorist Suspects Named; Most Linked with Gush Leadership https://www.jta.org/archive/jewish-terrorist-suspects-named-most-linked-with-gush-leadership 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Reactions In Palestine A number of protests and strikes broke out across the West Bank in response to the shooting. The afternoon of the day of the attack, one Palestinian was killed and one injured when Israeli forces attempted to disperse a demonstration. On 27 July, at least four Birzeit University students were injured as a demonstration clashed with Israeli military forces.27 July 1983 Wednesday, July 27, 1983 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/14523 28 November 2024 The Palestine Chronology In response to the protests, the Israeli military imposed a curfew on Hebron and deployed several thousand soldiers to the area.29 July 1983 Arabs in Israel and West Bank Stage Protests Against Attack on Students in Hebron https://www.jta.org/archive/arabs-in-israel-and-west-bank-stage-protests-against-attack-on-students-in-hebron 26 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Ousted Mayor of Hebron Mustafa Natshe responded to the curfew by claiming that "If the victim is Israeli, a curfew is imposed on the Arabs. If the victim is Arab, a curfew is also imposed on the Arabs," and that "the settlers can do anything and not be afraid of punishment."29 July 1983 HEBRON https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/07/29/hebron/19be15db-9379-41e9-9493-866b32328ec2/ Walsh Edward 28 November 2024 Washington Post On 1 August, the Israeli military lifted the curfew on Hebron. The same day, Israeli military courts began court proceedings against 26 Birzeit University students who had been arrested during the protests.1 August 1983 West Bank Remains Tense https://www.jta.org/archive/west-bank-remains-tense-2 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The day after, two of the students were sentenced to nine months incarceration each for their participation in the protests.2 August 1983 Tuesday, August 2, 1983 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/14529 28 November 2024 The Palestine Chronology In Israel Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin described the attack as a "despicable act," while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yehuda Ben-Meir described it as an "outrage and atrocity which was perpetrated by evil people." The Jewish Underground trial was controversial in Israel, with Israeli nationalists praising the defendants as heroes. Minister of Foreign Affairs Yitzhak Shamir stated that he wished to see them pardoned, while Likud chair Haim Kaufman stated that he would present a bill to the Knesset to have them released.23 July 1985 Three Jewish Underground Members Sentenced to Life Imprisonment; Twelve Other Members Sentenced from https://www.jta.org/archive/three-jewish-underground-members-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-twelve-other-members-sentenced-from 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Former Shin Bet director Avraham Ahituv published an article in Davar in response the attack calling Israeli settlements a "psychological hothouse for the growth of Jewish terror" and stated that violent settlers felt like they had the government's support.23 August 1983 Gush Settlers Incensed over Article Claiming That West Bank Settlements Are a 'hothouse' for 'jewish https://www.jta.org/archive/gush-settlers-incensed-over-article-claiming-that-west-bank-settlements-are-a-hothouse-for-jewish 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency In responses, the Gush Emunim movement called the article "a danger to the nation’s security." Israeli Chief of the General Staff Moshe Levi rejected calls for settlers to be disarmed, stating that settlers needed weapons for self-defence.28 July 1983 4 Arabs Are Wounded In West Bank Incident https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/28/world/4-arabs-are-wounded-in-west-bank-incident.html 28 November 2024 The New York Times A number of Arab localities in Israel held a two-hour strike in protest against the shootings on 29 July. International Spokesperson for the United States Department of State John Hughes stated that the US "deplores this criminal act and condemns terrorism from any corner" and urged "all in the area to be calm and refrain from further acts of violence."27 July 1983 U.S. Says Hebron Attack Was a 'criminal Act' https://www.jta.org/archive/u-s-says-hebron-attack-was-a-criminal-act 26 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations Michalis Doundas described the attack as a "cowardly act of violence" and called for the Israeli government to "ensure that such criminal acts against the local Arab population are not repeated in the future."2 August 1983 Situation in the OPT/Islamic University of Hebron – Letter from Greece https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-176117/ 26 November 2024 United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine In response to the attack, the United Nations Security Council held a debate on the situation in the West Bank.3 August 1983 Arabs, Third World Countries in UN Seeking to Condemn Israel for Attack on Students in Hebron https://www.jta.org/archive/arabs-third-world-countries-in-un-seeking-to-condemn-israel-for-attack-on-students-in-hebron 26 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency A motion calling for countries "not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the occupied territories" failed to pass the Security Council, with 13 members voting in favour, Zaire abstaining, and the United States using its veto power. The American representative on the Security Council, Charles Lichenstein, stated that the debate over the legality of Israeli settlements was "sterile" and that it was not "practical or even appropriate to call for the dismantling of the existing settlements."4 August 1983 U.S. Vetoes Anti-israel Resolution https://www.jta.org/archive/u-s-vetoes-anti-israel-resolution-2 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Yehuda Zvi Blum argued that Israel "cannot get a fair deal in the Security Council," and that "Jews have a right to live in Judaea and Samaria. We do not regard ourselves as strangers in any part of the Land of Israel." Aftermath In March 1987, President of Israel Chaim Herzog commuted the sentences of the three convicted for the attack to 24 years imprisonment.30 March 1987 Herzog Rapped for Reducing Sentences of 3 Members of Jewish Underground https://www.jta.org/archive/herzog-rapped-for-reducing-sentences-of-3-members-of-jewish-underground 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency In May 1988, as part of the 40th anniversary of Israeli independence celebrations, Herzog signed an executive order further reducing the sentences to 15 years. Israeli Minister of Justice Avraham Sharir had recommended full pardons.21 May 1988 Israel Cuts Sentences of 3 Jewish Terrorists : Herzog Commutes Life Terms to 15 Years for Settlers Convicted of Killing 3 Arab Students https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-21-mn-3150-story.html Fisher Dan 28 November 2024 Los Angeles Times In June 1989, Herzog reduced the sentences once more to 10 years.7 June 1989 Herzog Commutes Jail Sentences of 3 Jewish Underground Members https://www.jta.org/archive/herzog-commutes-jail-sentences-of-3-jewish-underground-members 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency In December 1990, all three were released from prison.27 December 1990 3 Members of Jewish Underground Leave Prison to Hero's Welcome https://www.jta.org/archive/3-members-of-jewish-underground-leave-prison-to-heros-welcome 28 November 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency After being released, Menachem Livni claimed that he was "an innocent citizen who has fulfilled his obligations under extreme circumstances and worst of all was arrested and made a victim in prison."26 December 1990 Last three members of Jewish terror underground released https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/12/26/Last-three-members-of-Jewish-terror-underground-released/3083662187600/ 28 November 2024 UPI Following his release, Livni became a cherry and grape farmer on an illegally-owned plot of land in Kiryat Arba in the West Bank. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as chair of the Association for the Renewal of the Jewish Community in Hebron.7 December 2015 Haaretz Investigation: U.S. Donors Gave Settlements More Than $220 Million in Tax-exempt Funds Over Five Years https://www.haaretz.com/2015-12-07/ty-article/haaretz-investigates-u-s-donors-to-israeli-settlements/0000017f-f6bb-d460-afff-ffffd93e0000 Blau Uri 28 November 2024 Haaretz In 2013, he was awarded 1,327,123 Israeli new shekels by the Israeli justice system for damages caused by Palestinian vandalism of the land.13 February 2013 Former Jewish Underground Convict Receives More Than NIS 1.3 Million From State https://www.haaretz.com/2013-02-13/ty-article/.premium/stole-land-and-got-compensation-for-it/0000017f-f623-d318-afff-f763c4ff0000 Levinson Chaim 28 November 2024 Haaretz Uzi Sharbaf has also continued pro-settlement activism. In 2012, he gave a speech at a conference advocating for Israeli annexation of the West Bank attended by several MKs, stating that "This is not Arab land. This is the holy land of God."16 July 2012 The newly confident Israeli proponents of a one-state solution https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-hebron-conference-proponents-of-the-one-state-solution-show-their-growing-confidence/ Ahren Raphael 28 November 2024 The Times of Israel In 2024, he spoke at an Israeli conference titled "Conference For the Victory of Israel – Settlement Brings Security" advocating Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip attended by Israeli government ministers.29 January 2024 Ethnic Cleansing in God's Name: The Only Israelis With a Plan for the 'Day After' in Gaza https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-29/ty-article/.premium/ethnic-cleansing-in-gods-name-the-only-israelis-with-a-plan-for-the-day-after-in-gaza/0000018d-55e0-d997-adff-ddfa9b490000 Pfeffer Anshel 28 November 2024 Haaretz In December 2015, Shaul Nir and his wife were injured in a drive-by shooting while driving on Highway 55 near the Israeli settlement of Avnei Hefetz.9 December 2015 Former member of Jewish Underground, wife wounded in West Bank shooting attack https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-12-09/ty-article/.premium/two-elderly-israelis-wounded-in-west-bank-shooting/0000017f-f069-d223-a97f-fdfdb83e0000 Levinson Chaim 28 November 2024 Haaretz In 2023, their son, Yitzhak Nir, was involved in a controversy after being identified as shooting Palestinian Zakaria al-Adra in the village of At-Tuwani shortly after the October 7 attacks.Nathaniel Jasper A Video Shows an Israeli Settler Shooting a Palestinian Point-Blank. 10 Months Later, No One Has Been Arrested https://zeteo.com/p/israeli-settler-violence-palestinian-masafer-yatta Zeteo 8 May 2025 20 August 2024 See also Jewish terrorism Israeli settler violence Zionist political violence References Category:Jewish Underground Category:Hebron University Category:July 1983 in Asia Category:Terrorist incidents in the West Bank in 1983 Category:Terrorist incidents in Hebron Category:1983 in the Israeli Civil Administration area Category:Crime in the Israeli Civil Administration area Category:Israeli settler violence Category:Attacks on schools in the 1980s Category:1983 mass murders Category:20th-century mass murders in Palestine Category:1983 mass shootings in Asia Category:Mass shootings in Palestine Category:Deaths by firearm in the West Bank Category:University and college shootings in Asia Category:University and college killings in Asia Category:1983 murders in Asia Category:Grenade attacks in Asia Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1983 Category:Mass shootings in schools Category:School shootings in Palestine