'We will respond to every Israeli crime and act of terror.'
צילום: רויטרס
Islamic Jihad: IDF can't dismantle us
Senior member of group’s military wing, Al-Quds Brigades, says, ‘Even if hundreds of us are arrested, Israel will not succeed in dismantling the organization’; adds: ‘Netanya bombing was response to assassination of Jihad commander Louie Sa'adi’
Even if hundreds of us are arrested, Israel will not succeed in dismantling Islamic Jihad, Abu el-Mauman, a senior member of the group’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, told Ynet on Tuesday.
The IDF has already launched a series of arrests following the Monday’s Netanya bombing: Early Tuesday IDF forces arrested the father and brother of the suicide bomber responsible for carrying out terror; the two were detained in the West Bank village of Ilar, north of Tul Karem. Another six wanted Islamic Jihad members were apprehended at the village as well.
According to Abu el-Mauman, Islamic Jihad remains committed to the calm, at least until the end of 2005.
“Yesterday’s attack came in response to the assassination of Jihad commander Louie Sa'adi and others and in response to the continued arrests and other Israeli crimes committed against the organization and the Palestinian people.”
When asked if the group’s leadership abroad is pressuring the local commanders to carry out terror attacks, el-Mauman said, “The attempt to separate the leadership that is based overseas and the local activists is a desperate and failed Israeli attempt aimed at creating a dispute within the group and tarnishing its image in the territories.
“The Palestinian nation understands our will to respond to the crimes of the occupation and the assassination of our nation’s finest, such as the heroic shahid (martyr) Louie Sa'adi.”
Should Israel expect additional attacks?
“It depends on what happens now on the Israeli side. This should be clear, and we have proven this – we will respond to every Israeli crime and act of terror. The Israeli must understand that this is the equation; no arrests or assassinations will weaken us or deny us of our right to protect ourselves and respond to Israel’s crimes.”
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, Palestinian Authority police detained a number of Islamic Jihad members, mainly in the Nablus area; Palestinian organizations staunchly criticized the arrests, which led to gun battles between gunmen and PA security forces. Members of Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were involved in the clashes with the PA officers, stating that the group would not permit police officers to arrest Islamic Jihad members.
The exchanges of fire took place in Nablus’ center and in the Balata refugee camp, where al-Aqsa members protected Jihad members with their bodies; some even threatened to detonate explosives on the PA officers.
“We made it clear to the PA officers that a situation in which political arrests are carried out while the occupation persists is unacceptable,” al-Aqsa commander Abu Nasser told Ynet.
“Should the occupation end, and people will continue to break the law, we will arrest them ourselves,” he said.
