Mofaz: Back to targeted killings
Defense minister decides on series of actions against Islamic Jihad; rejects security establishment's recommendation to launch simultaneous wide-scale activity against terror group
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz instructed the IDF on Wednesday to return to its targeted killings policy.
During a special meeting held following the terror attack in Hadera, the defense minister also decided on a series of actions against Islamic Jihad.
However, Mofaz did not order the IDF to launch an operation in Gaza, as the security establishment has decided that a maneuver of this magnitude will take place only in response to Qassam and mortar fire.
Earlier IDF officials proposed to engage in wide-scale activity against Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the West Bank, but Mofaz rejected the recommendation.
Halutz also proposed the IDF impose a full closure on Gaza and the West Bank.
On Wednesday morning the IDF opened the Karni and Erez crossings, which were shut down amid the Qassam rocket attacks launched at Israel during the holiday.
IDF officials said they recommend Israel apply diplomatic and international pressure on the Palestinian Authority and work to turn the Palestinian population against Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
IDF activity aimed at apprehending wanted terrorists in the West Bank will apparently expand, and Palestinian vehicles will continue to be banned from West Bank roads.
Moreover, during the meeting Halutz also proposed that illegal structures in the West Bank be destroyed.
“These are structures that we have not destroyed until now out of consideration for the Palestinian population,” Halutz said.
Air-Force jets are expected to continue flying over Gaza and cause supersonic booms in the area, especially over Qassam rocket launching areas in northern Gaza.
The security establishment has received 44 warnings regarding possible terror attack attempts, and therefore decided to put security forces on maximum alert (one level lower than a state of emergency) as of Thursday morning.
According to security officials, checkpoint will be set up in entrances to major cities, and security will be boosted on public transportation vehicles and in population centers while placing an emphasis on the resumption of school following the Simchat Torah holiday.
Security is also expected to be heightened in the around-Jerusalem and Green Line areas.
Government officials in Jerusalem told Ynet that they will not announce the suspension of talks with the PA, apart from security-related deliberations, which were already been suspended following the Gush Etzion terror attack.
'Today they succeeded, so they are calling it a revenge attack'
It seems that a wide-scale operation against West Bank terror infrastructures is on the agenda at this point, as such a move may lead to escalation that would thwart possible diplomatic moves ahead of the PA general elections, scheduled for January 2006. Jerusalem is also fearful of evoking the Bush Administration’s ire.
Israel is fully aware that a massive military operation would harm the Palestinian population, and subsequently destabilize PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ position and strengthen Hamas.
Security officials claim the Hadera attack was not carried out in response to the targeted killing of senior Islamic Jihad leader Louie Sa’adi, but was rather planned prior to it.
“Such an attack requires more than two days worth of preparations,” one official said.
“They constantly try to carry out attacks, and today they succeeded, so they are calling it a revenge attack.”
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office dismissed claims made by right-wing activists whereby the Hadera attack took place as a result of the recent pullout from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
“Anyone who claims the terror attack in Hadera or the Qassam fire on Sderot were the outcome of the pullout has apparently arrived in Israel only a month ago,” one source said.
Ronny Sofer and Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
