Baruch Goldstein

Clashes following the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, 1994 Dan Hadani Archive III

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Baruch Goldstein tomb

Baruch Goldstein (December 9, 1956 – February 25, 1994) was an American-Israeli physician and religious extremist who perpetrated the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre in Hebron, killing 29 Palestinian Muslim worshippers and wounding more than 125 others. This act of mass murder took place on February 25, 1994, during the overlapping religious observances of Ramadan and Purim. Goldstein, a supporter of the far-right Israeli political party Kach, was subsequently overpowered and beaten to death by survivors of the massacre.

Early Life and Education

Baruch Goldstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, to an Orthodox Jewish family. After completing his education in the United States, where he earned a medical degree, Goldstein emigrated to Israel in the early 1980s. He served as a physician in the Israel Defense Forces, eventually settling in the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, located near Hebron in the West Bank.

Cave of the Patriarchs Massacre

On February 25, 1994, Goldstein entered the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron, armed with an IMI Galil assault rifle. Dressed in his military reserve uniform, he opened fire on Palestinian worshippers gathered for the early morning Ramadan prayers, killing 29 and injuring more than 125. The massacre ended when survivors managed to overpower him, resulting in his death. The attack is considered one of the deadliest against Palestinians in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Aftermath and Legacy

The massacre led to widespread condemnation from the international community and intensified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also prompted the Israeli government to crack down on extremist Jewish organizations, leading to the eventual outlawing of Kach and its offshoots. In the aftermath, the Israeli government implemented stricter security measures and temporarily closed the Cave of the Patriarchs to both Jews and Muslims. The site was later divided into separate areas for Jewish and Muslim worshippers.

Goldstein's grave became a pilgrimage site for Jewish extremists, a development that has been a source of controversy within Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. The Israeli government has taken steps to prevent the commemoration of Goldstein and to curb the activities of his supporters.

Controversies and Criticisms

Goldstein's actions have been subject to significant criticism and have been labeled as an act of terrorism by many governments and organizations. His attack has been condemned by a wide range of figures within Israel, including political leaders and religious authorities. Critics argue that his actions have exacerbated tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, contributing to the cycle of violence in the region.

See Also

• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• Hebron
• Terrorism in Israel