The Erez industrial zone, the site of the miraculously-thwarted multi-pronged terrorist attack two days ago, was established 30 years ago. More than 200 factories - half of them owned by Arabs - operate in the industrial zone, and over 4,500 workers work there. The average wage of 90 shekels a day compares quite favorably to the average of 50 shekels inside the Gaza Strip.
The joint PA and Israeli industrial zones are a preferred target for the terrorist organizations' attacks. The terrorist organizations take advantage of the easy by which terrorists can reach those areas, while ignoring the huge damage these attacks - and the subsequent closing of the zones and/or crossings - cause their own compatriots. Dozens of attacks have been perpetrated there over the past 3.5-year-old Oslo War, including shootings, hand-grenades, bombs and rockets.
In addition to the above, in most of which there were no injuries, the terrorists have perpetrated several major attacks, including two this year:
- On February 26, two Arab terrorists on their way to a mass shooting attack on the Ashkelon-Yad Mordechai highway were killed by an Israeli Army force before they could reach their target. An IDF soldier on reserve duty was killed.
- On Jan. 14, a female Hamas terrorist blew herself up in the Erez industrial zone, murdering four Israelis. The terrorist was an Arab mother of two who took advantage of momentary negligence by soldiers who had answered her cries for mercy as a "cripple."
In 2003, four IDF soldiers and three civilians were killed in several attacks in Erez, and two Border Guard policemen were killed there the year before.
The joint PA and Israeli industrial zones are a preferred target for the terrorist organizations' attacks. The terrorist organizations take advantage of the easy by which terrorists can reach those areas, while ignoring the huge damage these attacks - and the subsequent closing of the zones and/or crossings - cause their own compatriots. Dozens of attacks have been perpetrated there over the past 3.5-year-old Oslo War, including shootings, hand-grenades, bombs and rockets.
In addition to the above, in most of which there were no injuries, the terrorists have perpetrated several major attacks, including two this year:
- On February 26, two Arab terrorists on their way to a mass shooting attack on the Ashkelon-Yad Mordechai highway were killed by an Israeli Army force before they could reach their target. An IDF soldier on reserve duty was killed.
- On Jan. 14, a female Hamas terrorist blew herself up in the Erez industrial zone, murdering four Israelis. The terrorist was an Arab mother of two who took advantage of momentary negligence by soldiers who had answered her cries for mercy as a "cripple."
In 2003, four IDF soldiers and three civilians were killed in several attacks in Erez, and two Border Guard policemen were killed there the year before.