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May 2, 2006

Israel: Islamic Jihad Vows To Continue Attacks

Today's Jerusalem Post reports that a delegation of Islamic Jihad, currently in Egypt undergoing negotiations with the Egyptian government to secure some sort of peace, has refused to stop its campaigns of terror against Israeli civilians and interests.

On April 17, nine people were killed by an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber upon a falafel stand in Tel Aviv. Following this attack, the group's spokesman, Ramadan Shalah (who is based in Syria) vowed to continue its offensive.

So the news from the delegation in Egypt, which is being led by Ramadan Shalah, is hardly surprising. Khaled al-Batch, a spokesman for the group, announced from Gaza via telephone that as long as Israel continued to occupy Palestinian territories and to assassinate its leaders "This issue is not on the table for discussion." He said: "The goal is ending occupation and halting the attacks on the Palestinians."

Al-Batch claimed that Palestinian organisations and in particular Al-Quds Brigades, their military branch, would not have their "hands tied on the issue of Israeli aggression."

The talks began earlier today with Omar Suleiman, Egypt's chief of intelligence.

The news comes as today, Israel celebrates its Independence Day, marking its 58th year of existence. This year, the theme of much of the celebrations will be to reaffirm David Ben-Gurion's dream of causing the desert to bloom. This year will be declared the Year of Development of the Negev and Galilee.

Yesterday, according to Ynet News, the Jerusalem Post and Arutz Sheva, it was disclosed that an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber, who was intercepted by Israeli security forces six weeks ago, was on his way to Haifa Mall to wreak damage and death.

26-year old Kifa Nuahda (or Kefah Nuada) was arrested on the Jeusalem-Tel Aviv highway near Sha'alvim, outside Jerusalem, on March 21. He had in his possession a bag stuffed with explosives. A resident of the village of Ya'amon, Nuahda had already been filmed by Islamic Jihad giving his valedictory publicity video, brandishing a Kalashnikov. He had entered Jerusalem with other Palestinians as an illegal worker, and in his previous experience of the area through illegal work, he had also targeted Haifa central station, as well as the bay area and other possible locations for his suicide attack.

Interrogators said that he had intended to blow himself up either on Memorial Day or today, Independence Day. Nuahda had been recruited and sent on his mission by Islamic Jihad members from Jenin in the West Bank. One of those who recruited him was Atzam Zayoud, who was arrested on April 8. Zayoud admitted under questioning to sending Nuahda to carry out the foiled attack.

Yesterday, Ynet News also reported that a man was arrested in Jericho with an explosive device, which had also been intended to be set off on Independence Day or Memorial Day. Four others were also arrested.

In separate news: The Jerusalem Post reports that earlier this evening (Tuesday 2 May), a mosque in Acre was attacked by "Jewish fanatics". The al-Aska Foundation for the Conservation of Islamic Holy Sites claimed that the radicals destroyed part of the mosque's dome and draped it with an Israeli flag.

Also, the BBC is also milking one story for all it is worth in two articles, that of the sad case of a woman who was killed by soldiers' gunfire during the arrest of a militant in Tulkarm, in the West Bank. Eitas Zalat, a mother of five, was shot at dawn earlier today. The Iraeli army has issued an official apology. It is a shame that the BBC does not devote so many column inches to descriptions of the families of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinian attacks. But Palestinian women are good at public histrionics and loud wailing, always good for a BBC story, even if they are relatives and supporters of terrorists.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at May 2, 2006 7:38 PM

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