‘Dad was a hero, I’m not angry at the officers who shot him’

Ofek Ben Ari, the daughter of Ofer who was killed in the course of a terror stabbing attack in Jerusalem last Wednesday, said on Saturday night that she does not blame the female Border Police officers who accidentally shot her father while trying to stop the terrorists.

“I am not at all angry at the officers, they tried to neutralize the terrorist,” said Ofek. “Dad was a hero, and I’m sure that he sides with what they did.”

“I’m very happy to speak with them. I can’t imagine the feelings of guilt and remorse that are haunting them. We would be happy if they came and spoke (to us), even if only to calm them and tell them we are not angry – the opposite is true.”

Ofer Ben Ari was buried last Thursday after heroically trying to stop two knife-wielding Arab terrorists as they conducted an attack at the Yafo Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City the day before. Two Border Police officers rushed to stop the attack, but while shooting the terrorists they accidentally hit Ben Ari.

Aside from Ben Ari who died from his wounds, 45-year-old Reuven Birmacher was murdered by the terrorists, and a third victim was seriously wounded. Ben Ari was trying to prevent the terrorists from stabbing Birmacher to death.

The two Arab terrorists who conducted the stabbing were later identified as a pair of former convicts from Qalandiya, both of whom were arrested for terrorism and imprisoned in the past. One was shot dead by the officers and the other shot and seriously wounded.

At Ben Ari’s funeral, Minister for Environmental Protection Avi Gabbai (Kulanu), a childhood friend of the victim, said, “I grew up with Ofer, and he was always a courageous person. You were always first, you always cared. I can imagine how you saw the hubbub and ran to take action.”

“The only consolation to the family is that Ofer prevented the terror attack from being bigger than it was. Our great security network cannot arrest every single terrorist who gets up in the morning and buys a knife. We can keep being resolute. We are a strong nation and we will stay here forever. May God avenge your blood.”