Death in the market
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Bombing victims
PM: Broad, nonstop response to terror
A day after suicide bombing in Hadera, Israel puts Islamic Jihad in Damascus, Gaza, and northern West Bank in its sights. Air strikes renewed, ground operations considered. Israel’s dilemma: Will anti-terror offensive weaken Abbas?
Israel will launch “broad, nonstop” attacks against Palestinian terrorists, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says, a day after a suicide bomber killed five people in Hadera.
In a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Thursday, Sharon criticized the Palestinian Authority, saying it has failed to adopt serious counter-terrorism measures. The PM stressed Israel would not accept terrorism under any circumstances, and would therefore continue launching broad operations until terror is curbed.
Meanwhile, security officials are focusing their attention on the Islamic Jihad in Syria and in Palestinian areas and planning to resume targeted killings and strikes in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Terror Attack
Ynet reporters
Terror returns to Israel’s cities: Suicide bomber strikes in market in Hadera, north of Tel Aviv and scene of several previous attacks
During late-night meetings held by the IDF chief of staff and defense ministers, officials considered a resumption of “Arafat-era operations,” as well as ground assaults. However, at this time it appears Israel will be exercising some restraint, in order to avoid weakening Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the upcoming PA elections.
Overnight, the Air Force attacked several targets in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on Qassam rockets launching sites. Such air strikes are expected to continue.
Meanwhile, IDF troops and Shin Bet agents arrested several wanted terror suspects across the West Bank. Six suspects, including the Hadera suicide bomber’s father, were detained in the town of Kabatiya, south of Jenin. Two Islamic Jihad members were arrested in Tul Karem, and three Hamas members were apprehended in Hebron.
One blast victim in very serious condition
As of Thursday morning, 20 people hurt in the Hadera bombing remained in hospital, including five in serious condition. One woman is said to be in very serious but stable condition.
Israel's Response
Alex Fishman
IDF to fight terror like it did during Arafat era; infantry units prepare for large-scale operation
The latest surge in violence began earlier this week. IDF troops killed senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Louie Sa’adi in the West Bank, prompting the terror group to announce the relative lull in violence was history, even though the Islamic Jihad was never fully committed to the lull to begin with. The threats were followed by renewed Qassam attacks in Gaza, followed by IDF strikes in the Strip.
Hanan Greenberg, Efrat Weiss, and Meital Yasur Beit-Or contributed to the story
