Cave of the Patriarchs massacre

Quick Facts: Who was Cave of the Patriarchs massacre?

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Cave of the Patriarchs massacre

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Physician responsible for the 1994 massacre at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

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Origins & Early Life

On 25 February 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an American-Israeli physician and member of the far-right ultra-Zionist Kach movement, carried out a mass shooting of Palestinians who were praying in the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron. Goldstein, dressed in Israeli army uniform, opened fire with an assault rifle and killed 29 people, including children as young as 12, and wounded 125 others. Goldstein was overpowered and beaten to death by survivors. The atrocity, which occurred during the Jewish holiday of Purim and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, strained the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Accords peace process, immediately setting off mass protests by Palestinians throughout the West Bank. During the ensuing clashes, 20 to 26 Palestinians were killed while 120 were injured in confrontations with the Israeli military, and 9 Israeli Jews were also killed.

Career & Major Achievements

Goldstein was widely denounced in Israel and by communities in the Jewish diaspora, with many attributing his act to insanity. Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin condemned the attack, describing Goldstein as a "degenerate murderer" and "a shame on Zionism and an embarrassment to Judaism". Some Jewish settlers in Hebron lauded him as a hero, viewing his attack as a pre-emptive strike and his subsequent death as an act of martyrdom. Following statements in support of Goldstein's actions, the Jewish ultranationalist Kach party was banned and designated a terrorist organization by the Israeli government. In the 1970s, Baruch Goldstein, who was born and lived in Brooklyn, New York, was a charter member of the Jewish Defense League.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After emigrating to Israel in 1983, he served as a physician in the Israel Defense Forces, first as a conscript, then in the reserve forces. Following the end of his active duty, Goldstein worked as a physician and lived in the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron, where he served as an emergency doctor. Goldstein became involved with Kach, and maintained a strong personal relationship with Kahane, whose views, regarded by the Israeli government as racist, had caused his party to be banned from the Knesset in 1988. Kahane was assassinated in 1990 by Arab terrorist El Sayyid Nosair in New York City, and Goldstein reportedly swore to take revenge for the killing. Goldstein was elected to Kiryat Arba city council and in this capacity assisted in establishing a memorial park dedicated to Kahane.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1983: 1983 Milestone — After emigrating to Israel in 1983, he served as a physician in the Israel Defense Forces, first as a conscript, then in the reserve forces.
2. 1988: 1988 Milestone — Goldstein became involved with Kach, and maintained a strong personal relationship with Kahane, whose views, regarded by the Israeli government as racist, had caused his party to be banned from the Knesset in 1988.
3. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Kahane was assassinated in 1990 by Arab terrorist El Sayyid Nosair in New York City, and Goldstein reportedly swore to take revenge for the killing.
4. 1994: 1994 Milestone — On 25 February 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an American-Israeli physician and member of the far-right ultra-Zionist Kach movement, carried out a mass shooting of Palestinians who were praying in the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron.

Notable Quotes by Cave of the Patriarchs massacre

“There will be a day when one Jew will take revenge on the Arabs.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cave of the Patriarchs massacre

True or False: “The massacre occurred during both the Jewish holiday of Purim and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The date February 25, 1994, coincided with the celebration of Purim and fell within the observance period of Ramadan.

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