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Israel assassinates Jihad leaders
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, July 3, 2001
RAMALLAH Ñ Israel has assassinated three leaders of an
Iranian-backed group said to be responsible for a spate of bombings in the
Jewish state. A Palestinian group retaliated with two car bombs near Tel Aviv's airport.
Palestinian sources said an Israeli air force attack helicopter fired
missiles that struck a car near the West Bank city of Jenin, Middle East Newsline reported. Three leaders
of the Islamic Jihad in the car were killed instantly.
The dead included Mohammed Basharat, regarded as a leading member of the
Jihad. Basharat was the target of an assassination attempt in late March.
The sources said the car was struck by eight missiles. They said the car
was believed to have contained weapons and explosives.
In Washington, the State Department criticized Israel's killing of the three
Islamic fugitives. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli
troops on late Monday in what military sources termed an accident.
Overnight Monday, Palestinian leaders of the Jenin area met to discuss
the assassination. The leaders, who represented both the ruling Fatah as
well as opposition Islamic movements announced that they would avenge the
Israeli attack.
Later on Monday, two bombs exploded in the Tel Aviv suburb of Yehud. Six
people were reportedly injured. Authorities attributed the attack to Islamic
militants.
The Palestinians said they would no longer be bound by the
U.S.-sponsored ceasefire.
Israeli officials acknowledged the assassination. They said the
Palestinians Ñ who included a member of Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat's ruling Fatah party Ñ were responsible for bombings in the
Hadera area and were planning new attacks.
"They are heavy terrorists who have been allowed to roam free," Israeli
Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh said. "This was an act of
self-defense."
Overnight Monday, Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian combatants in
the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians were reported to have hurled 16 grenades
toward Israeli positions near the Egyptian border.
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