Rabbi Ari Fuld, z"l--a targeted terror attack?

This morning, a Jew was murdered outside a shopping center in a place in Israel called, Gush Etzion. The victim was Rabbi Ari Fuld. Early reports suggested he was in his mid-forties. 

Baruch Dayan Emet.

His crime? He was a Jew. He was an ardent and 'undefeatable' defender of Israel.

He was murdered by an Arab.  Early reports may have suggested it's possible the Arab might have known who Rabbi Ari Fuld was. Was the terrorist waiting for him?

Rabbi Ari Fuld, father of four, was a pro-Israel activist. He was known in the area. On TV, on the internet and in the 'street', he confronted those who oppose Israel. He was very verbal about his defense of Israel--and not particularly polite with those who believed the lies Arabs and their supporters tell about Israel. 

He was an intimidating opponent. He was always much, much more knowledgeable than those who opposed him. Those who challenged him always had a problem. The problem was simple. Rabbi Fuld knew more about the topic discussed than they. His opponents had their talking points. But Rabbi Fuld had facts. His anti-Israel opponents often looked foolish beside him.

He's been called, 'an online warrior' (here). He was exactly that. His attitude was, "I will give the facts to defend Israel and to destroy those who lie and fabricate history” (ibid).

That's exactly what he did. The one defense I most remember was about the 'trouble' with Jewish 'settlement'. His response to a statement that settlements were the obstacle to peace went something like this: you think Jews are getting murdered because the settlements exist? We (Jews) were getting murdered before there were settlements here. We were getting murdered before the state of Israel was here. We were getting murdered back in the 1920's--because we're Jews. ...That's the obstacle to peace--an Arab culture of 'kill Jews'. Until we change that, there will be no peace!'

Please note, this 'quote' above is just my paraphrase. I'm sure Rabbi Fuld had other responses to the anti-settlement argument. This is simply one I seem to remember.

He's right. Our Arab neighbors live in a culture that marinates in genocide. Look at the Hamas Charter. It's a genocide document. Look at the PLO Charter. It's aim is to remove the 'Zionist entity' from the world. That may or may not be genocide--by itself. But when you consider how exactly the 'Zionist entity' would in fact be removed from this region, well, that's genocide because it would require the wholesale butchery of Jews.

Look at the website, palwatch. There, you'll find example after example of anti-Jew genocide--and some of the most virulent anti-Israel hate you'll ever find. As Rabbi Fuld has suggested, Jewish settlements have nothing to do with 'killing peace' in this region. Killing Jews kills peace.

Rabbi Fuld spoke against Jew-hate. He spoke against the consistently false 'Palestinian Narrative'. He confronted Israel's enemies, face-to-face, and few--if any--could blunt his arguments.

Now, his arguments are over. He will defend Israel no more. This morning, he was murdered by an Arab teenager. 

Rabbi Fuld was a known entity in the Gush-Hevron area. He was aggressive confronting anti-Israel lies. Was he targeted?

We don't know. We may never know. Perhaps a police investigation based upon such a premise might yield interesting results--and save Jewish lives. Dare the police think in these terms? 

These questions will have to wait. Now, we must comfort the family. May Rabbi Fuld's family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. May they find strength in his life's mission.