Islamic Jihad threatens harsh response (Archive photo)
Photo: AP
Terror leader: Lull is history
Islamic Jihad commander in Jenin area promises harsh response to killing of group leader; meanwhile, Egyptian security delegation expected to push terror groups to maintain restraint
The relative lull in Israeli-Palestinian violence “is history,” an Islamic Jihad commander in the Jenin area says in the wake of the killing of the group’s West Bank leader on Sunday, followed by a Qassam rocket barrage directed at the southern town of Sderot Monday afternoon.
The rocket fire is only an initial response, Abu al-Muamen warned in a conversation with Ynet.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned against further escalation and blasted Israel for the operation in Tul Karem that left Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades members dead. Abbas characterized the operation as a “crime” and said it threatened to thwart his efforts to bring about calm.
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“Throughout the recent period, we and all the Palestinian organizations were committed to the lull,” he said. “But the Zionist enemy continued its offensives against our people, and particularly against members of the movement. At a time when our commanders and leaders are in Israel’s sights and are being eliminated one after the other, we can’t talk about respecting the lull, which in our view no longer exists. It belongs to history.”
Earlier, the Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, declared the highest state of alert among terror cells in the West Bank. The group called on its members to prepare for retaliation for the killing of top Jihad leader Louie Sa’adi, saying all targets were an option.
“We’ll respond with full force…we’ll avenge the blood of our commander and our people any place our arm will reach the Zionist enemy,” Abu al-Muamen said.
Bracing for IDF resposne
The Palestinians, meanwhile, were bracing for a possible IDF operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the earlier Qassam strikes. Palestinian sources said the army boosted its presence, particularly in the northern Strip, while gunships and fighter jets continued to hover above.
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Sources in Gaza said an Egyptian security delegation is expected to start consultations with Palestinian terror groups, and particularly the Islamic Jihad, in a bid to convince them to maintain restraint and refrain from ending the relative lull in violence. However, Jihad figures have signaled they fully intend to respond to the killing of their West Bank commander.
