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Five Palestinians killed in failed assassination attempt

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, September 2, 2002

RAMALLAH Ñ Five Palestinians were killed in a failed Israeli attempt to kill a leading Palestinian insurgent.

Israeli and Palestinian sources said two Israeli AH-64A Apache attack helicopter fired four rockets at a car that contained a suspected Fatah insurgency leader. The insurgent, Jihad Sauafta, was said to have escaped.

Five people in the vehicle were killed. The sources said they included youngsters who were not connected to Palestinian insurgency attacks. Another Fatah insurgent, identified as Rafat Daraghmeh, was also said to have been killed.

The Israeli attack took place near the West Bank village of Tubas. The car was driving from Taysir to Tubas and was followed by the Apache helicopters until they fired four anti-tank missiles.

"Sometimes there are mistakes," Israeli Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau said. "But that doesn't mean these operations should be terminated."

But Israeli Science Minister Matan Vilnai said the military is making "mistake and mistake. The army must inspect itself."

Sauafta was identified as a leader of Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. He was the latest target in a series of insurgency leaders killed or arrested over the last two weeks.

Near Hebron, Israeli forces killed four Palestinians overnight Sunday outside the village of Bani Naim. The Palestinians were not immediately identified as insurgents but suspected of being thieves who had intended to enter Israeli farms.

Earlier, Israeli troops arrested Hamas leader Hassan Yusef. Yusef was identified as a cleric and leader of Hamas's political wing in the West Bank.

Palestinian sources said Yusef was captured in Ramallah in a major sweep by Israeli forces. The hideout used by Yusef was said to contain a large amount of money.

Near Nablus, a Palestinian insurgent infiltrated an Israeli community and opened fire toward a group of women and children. Two people were seriously injured. The insurgent, identified as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was killed by Israeli security forces.

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