Israeli defense authorities are continuing their investigation into the stabbing attack in Herzliya on Friday that claimed the life of Holocaust survivor Ludmilla Lipovsky.
The victim, 83-year-old Lipovsky, was attacked by a Palestinian man from Tulkarm in the Palestinian Authority. The attacker, who had previously served time in an Israeli prison, had once worked as an informant for the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and was allowed to reside in Israel after his role was uncovered.
Initial findings reveal that the attacker underwent a polygraph test two weeks prior to the incident, conducted at the request of the defense establishment. The results of the test showed no abnormalities or red flags.
Authorities believe the assailant decided to carry out the attack in a moment of impulsive rage. This assumption is reinforced by his choice of a knife as the weapon, suggesting a lack of premeditation. Officials from the defense echelon emphasized that ISA informants play a critical role in thwarting terror plots by operating deep within terror networks. They noted that the majority of these individuals, who are reintegrated into Israeli society, go on to lead productive lives through employment, education, and in some cases, service in the IDF.
Defense officials described the attack as “rare and unusual,” with no precedent involving a former ISA collaborator in rehabilitation committing such an act of terror. The attacker, who was shot and injured by security personnel at the scene, remains hospitalized. Authorities plan to question him after his recovery to uncover the motives behind his actions.
The attack was stopped by security guards working for Israel Post, who were securing funds in armored vehicles. These guards, present at the site for professional reasons, quickly identified the unfolding assault and opened fire on the assailant.
Lipovsky, a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Israel from Russia in 1982, resided in a nursing facility provided by the Absorption Center in Herzliya. On the morning of the attack, she had been sitting on a bench waiting for her daughter when the terrorist approached. Despite her attempts to defend herself, she was overpowered. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
{Matzav.com Israel}