JERUSALEM Ñ An Islamic insurgent launched an attack on Christian
pilgrims along the Jordanian border in the first such strike in years.
A Jordanian truck driver shot five pilgrims on the Israeli side of the
southern border near Eilat on Wednesday. One of the pilgrims, an Ecuadorean
national, was killed.
The truck driver came from the Jordanian town of Zarka opened fire toward
the Israeli side of the border crossing, which was outside the Jordanian
city of Aqaba. Israeli soldiers responded with gunfire and killed the
insurgent.
The Islamic gunman took cover from one of a group of trucks waiting to
enter Israel. Jordanian sources later said the truck driver was believed to
have been working for an Islamic insurgency group.
Israeli security sources said intelligence agencies have been warning of
Islamic attacks along the borders with Egypt and Jordan. The sources said
the attacks were timed to take place at the end of the Islamic fast month of
Ramadan.
