Police: Bomb found in Galilee work of terrorists
Explosive charge found by jogger at entrance to Avtalion believed to be planted by Israeli Arabs
Cleared for publication: A roadside explosive charge was uncovered two months ago at the entrance to the Galilee communal settlement of Avtalion.
The explosive charge was discovered by a local resident who was jogging in the area one day after Land Day, an annual event protesting government policy regarding Israel's Arab minority.
The jogger summoned police sappers, who neutralized the device, which was partially composed of fireworks.
According to police suspicions, an organization of Israeli Arabs planted the device in a bid to target a car or a school bus.
"It is clear to us that the planting of the bomb was nationalistically-motivated," a source in the police's Northern District told Ynet on Sunday.
He said the bomb was laid there in an attempt at carrying out a terror attack, and that there was no doubt the attempted attack "could have caused casualties".
He said police had deemed an attack possible during a meeting held ahead of Land Day. "We were not surprised, but in any case we are not taking this lightly," he said.
The official added that the explosive device was "amateur, but no different from others that were previously used to cause casualties".
"It included gunpowder among other things, and if it had gone off the damage would have been extensive. Ninety percent of these amateur bombs can maim and kill," he said.
An Avtalion resident recounted the incident: "We didn’t understand what was going on. We saw firefighters, ambulances, police and Shin Bet personnel at the entrance to the community. People began to panic. Parents and their children were forced to remain in their cars at the roadblock for three-and-a-half hours."
Another resident said, "We are living in fear. No one is providing us with any answers, and rumors are spreading."
