Hamas, Jihad in joint attacks on Israelis
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
JERUSALEM Ñ Two Palestinian Islamic groups are said to be
cooperating in attacks against Israeli civilian targets.
Israeli and Palestinian sources said the cooperation between Hamas and Islamic Jihad is strong in the
southern region of the West Bank. This includes Hebron and south of the
city.
The cooperation has increased over the last month. The two groups have
participated in joint operations as well as exchange intelligence.
The latest joint operation was reported on Sunday, when an Islamic squad
attacked an Israeli passenger bus in Jerusalem. An Islamic gunman
opened fire with an M-16 semi-automatic rifle on the passenger bus.
At least two Israelis were killed and 40 were injured. Israeli soldiers
in the area returned fire and the attacker was killed. The gunman was
identified as Hatem Shweiki, 24, from Hebron and aligned with the Islamic
Jihad.
The Hamas-Jihad cooperation was meant to avenge the Israeli
assassination of Jamil Jadlallah last week in Hebron. Jadlallah was a Hamas
member who also worked with Jihad.
Overnight Monday, Israeli troops withdrew from the West Bank city of
Kalkilya. The city was one of six surrounded by the military in the West
Bank.
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