The Jewish Community of Hevron calls Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer\'s accusations against them a \"blood libel.\" Ben-Eliezer said that the Arab shooting from Abu Sneineh this past Friday night came in response to a \"Jewish provocation\" and that Jews from Hevron had shot towards the Arabs first. Spokesman Moshe Ben-Zimra said, \"There was absolutely no such thing - no shooting before, and no shooting afterwards. It is simply a blood libel, a total fabrication, and Ben-Eliezer, by saying this, has become the defender of Jibril Rajoub.\" IDF officers in the area, too, said that the Palestinian attack had not been preceded by Israeli shots.
The Cabinet decided not to re-take Abu Sneineh this weekend, despite Prime Minister Sharon\'s promise last week that he would do so if the shooting from there resumes. Rajoub received control of Abu Sneineh and Haret A-Sheikh in exchange for a promise to \"keep Hevron quiet\" - yet in addition to the Friday night fire, there have also been other attacks in the vicinity of Hevron over the past week.
The Cabinet decided not to re-take Abu Sneineh this weekend, despite Prime Minister Sharon\'s promise last week that he would do so if the shooting from there resumes. Rajoub received control of Abu Sneineh and Haret A-Sheikh in exchange for a promise to \"keep Hevron quiet\" - yet in addition to the Friday night fire, there have also been other attacks in the vicinity of Hevron over the past week.