JERUSALEM Ñ Israel has reported the capture of 15 Palestinian
suicide bombers as signs of renewed militant activities appeared in the West
Bank.
Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told the Cabinet on Sunday that the bombers had been detained over the past three weeks in
wake of Israel's military offensive in the West Bank.
Ben-Eliezer said Israel has not cancelled plans to attack Palestinian
insurgency strongholds in the Gaza Strip. He said the decision to shelve an
offensive over the weekend stemmed from leaks from the military, Middle East Newsline reported.
"We reserve the right to react when and where we choose," Ben-Eliezer
said. "Our commitment to fight against terror will be maintained. How, when
and where is our perogative."
Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash said
the Palestinian Authority had deployed suicide bombers to try to stop any
Israeli military advance in the Gaza Strip. The intelligence chief said
Palestinian insurgents had also reinforced positions and booby-trapped
streets of Gaza cities with mines.
In the Jordan Valley, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian insurgent who
crossed from neighboring Jordan. Israeli military sources said two
insurgents were attempting to enter an Israeli military base near Bekaot.
Another Palestinian insurgent was killed outside Bethlehem at the
entrance to Jerusalem during a shootout with Israeli forces. An Israeli
police officer was injured.
Earlier, Israeli military sources said the navy sank a ship full of
weapons that was making its way from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip. The sources
said the ship was sent by the Iranian-backed Hizbullah and was sank three
weeks ago. This was the first known attempt by Hizbullah to send a boat-full
of weapons since Israel's navy sank the Karine-A freighter in January.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was dealt a political
blow when his ruling Likud Party dismissed his appeal and voted for a
resolution that ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state. The
resolution, passed by a large majority, was in response to Sharon's pledge
last month that Israel would support a Palestinian state in any peace
settlement.
Later Sharon said he accepted the Likud decision but would continue what
he termed his path for peace. The effort to pass the resolution was led by
Sharon's rival, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
"Yes to a Palestinian state means no to a Jewish state," Netanyahu said.
"No to a Palestinian state means yes to a Jewish state."
