JERUSALEM Ñ Islamic insurgents aligned with the Hamas movement attacked Jewish
settlements throughout the weekend. At least three Israelis were killed and
another 11 people were injured in the attacks.
On early Saturday, three Israelis were killed in an attack on the Jewish
community of Karmei Zur near Hebron. Two Palestinian insurgents, dressed in
uniforms that resembled those of the Israeli military, sprayed mobile homes
and their inhabitants with gunfire. Hamas claimed responsibility for the
attack.
Hours later, a Palestinian insurgent opened fire toward a housing
facility outside the Yizhar settlement near the West Bank city of Nablus.
Four Israeli soldiers were injured and the attacker was killed.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers stopped a Palestinian insurgency
attack on the Jewish settlement of Dugit. Two Palestinians, one of them
carrying a grenade and assault rifle, swam in the Mediterranean Sea toward
the coastal community. One of the insurgents was killed.
Hamas claimed responsibility for this attack as well. Islamic sources
said Iran has increased funding for several Islamic insurgency groups,
including Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah. Jihad was said to have attempted to
place huge mines near Israeli positions in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military sources said Jewish settlements were alerted for the
prospect of Palestinian attacks. The sources said the military deployed
additional troops in and around the communities.
The spate of attacks took place as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
left for Washington to meet U.S. President George Bush. The two men are
scheduled to meet on Monday as officials said Bush has rejected Arab calls
to present an Arab-Israeli peace plan that would set a timetable for a
Palestinian state.
