Ch-Supt Samih Sweidan

Nov 15, 2002 - Border Police Chief-Superintendent Samih Sweidan, 31, of Arab al-Aramsha, was one of 12 people killed -- nine soldiers and three civilians from the Kiryat Arba emergency response team -- and 15 wounded in Hebron when Palestinian terrorists opened fire and threw grenades at a group of Jewish worshipers and their guards as they were walking home from Sabbath Eve prayers at the Cave of the Patriarchs.

The security personnel returned fire and pursued the attackers in a battle lasting some 90 minutes. Three terrorists were killed in the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic Jihad.

Sweidan was the operations officer of Hebron's Border Police unit and took command of the battle until he was killed counterattacking the terrorists shortly after the firing began.

Sweidan served in the paratroops and took an officer's course before joining the Border Police. His company commander, Sudki Dabor, said Sweidan was a brave soldier who took part in many battles and was wounded in one, but recuperated and returned to the front line. "He didn't know the meaning of fear. No one in the village knew of his prowess -- he used to take his uniform off when he came home." He was a role model for his men, Dabor added.