JERUSALEM Ñ Israel has assessed that it destroyed the Hamas network
in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
The Hamas cell was said to have launched most of the suicide operations
in the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas over the last month. They included the
Aug. 19 suicide bombing on an Israeli bus in which 22 people were killed in
Jerusalem.
Israeli forces, acting on information from security agencies, have
killed the last four commanders of the Hamas network in Hebron. The last
commander was killed on Monday when Israeli troops tore down a home in the
southern West Bank city.
The commander was identified as Bas Qawasmeh. His body was lying next
to his semi-automatic rifle and pistol.
On late Monday, Israeli aircraft broke the sound barrier as they flew
over Gaza City. Palestinian radio stations warned residents to stay in
shelters in case of an Israeli attack.
In a separate development, Israeli officials report that the Bush
administration does not plan to deduct the cost of the security fence from
the $9 billion in U.S. loan guarantees. The officials said the
administration agreed to delay such a move until Israel formally approves
the route of the barrier, which was to have included the Israeli city of
Ariel in the West Bank.
