The Hindu : Militant outfits launch joint attack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 09, 2003

International

International

Militant outfits launch joint attack

Israeli soldiers carry the body of a fellow fighter from an army post near the Erez crossing in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. — AP

GAZA CITY JUNE 8. Three Palestinians disguised as Israeli soldiers sneaked into an army post on Sunday and killed four Israeli soldiers before being killed by troops — the first major attack on Israelis since last week's West Asia summit.

The attack could be a major setback to a U.S.-backed peace plan and came just hours after Palestinian militant groups affirmed they would not halt attacks on Israelis.

Three armed groups — Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade — claimed joint responsibility for the attack. A leaflet gave the names of the gunmen, all in their early 20s, one from each group.

``This joint operation was committed to confirm our people's united choice of holy war and resistance until the end of occupation over our land and holy places,'' the leaflet said.

The Al Aqsa militia is linked to the ruling Fatah movement, and its involvement in the attack was a direct challenge to the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, a senior Fatah member, who has been trying to persuade militants to halt attacks on Israelis.

The Israeli military said four soldiers were killed and four others injured in the attack by the men armed with assault rifles and grenades.

Maj. Gen. Doron Almog, head of the army's southern command, told Israel Radio that the attackers arrived by surprise at the northern edge of the post, killed three soldiers at close range and a fourth soldier inside the base.

Israel demanded Mr. Abbas immediately begin arresting militants, dismantling their organisations and disarming Palestinians. ``If terrorism will continue, it will destroy the road map, it will destroy the peace process,'' the Israeli Government spokesman Avi Pazner, said.

Mr. Abbas said he would resist pressure to crack down on the militants and would continue efforts to talk with them. ``We will not allow anybody to drag us into a civil war,'' Mr. Abbas said on Sunday.

The attack came hours after an armed Palestinian tried to attack a Jewish settlement in Gaza, according to Palestinian and military sources. Israeli troops killed the man, who was armed with an assault rifle and a pouch of grenades, after he fired at them on Saturday night from a house in the central Gaza Strip.

On Saturday, Hamas met with Islamic Jihad and other radical factions, and participants agreed they would not stop bombings and shootings.

West Bank closed

Reflecting the continuing tension, Israel re-imposed a closure on the West Bank, banning Palestinians from entering Israel, except for humanitarian cases. The military said the closure was in force as of midnight on Saturday, ``due to serious security alerts.''

After Sunday's attack, Gaza crossings into Israel were also closed. Israeli security sources said there have been dozens of warnings of planned terror attacks.

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