Israeli military and police forces have begun to leave the area of Shechem, as a four-day anti-terror offensive winds to its conclusion.
In one incident during the offensive, Border Guard forces on their way out of the city were attacked by terrorists who hurled two home-made bombs at them. A violent riot then began, and the forces came under attack by a stone-throwing mob. The Israelis responded with riot-control measures; two soldiers were lightly hurt.
The Israeli forces included armored units, engineering corps sappers, and helicopter cover. Armed with extensive intelligence information, the Israelis searched house-to-house in some areas for terrorists and weapons.
During the course of the operation, three well-stocked explosives labs were discovered and destroyed. Last night (Monday), a lab was found containing home-made weapons, two gas canisters, pipes for pipe bombs, computers and electronic components.
Several wanted terrorists were arrested during the offensive. Eight terrorists of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were arrested last night as well, in Hevron, Bethlehem and Ramallah.
Kassam Rocket
For the first time in four days, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired a Kassam rocket at the Negev today (Tuesday). It landed near a kibbutz in the Shaar HaNegev regional council without causing casualties or damage. Outside Kalkilye this afternoon, near Kfar Saba, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli car, causing damage.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority television continues to incite and call for the murder of Jews. A recent segment of "Meeting with Jerusalem," a PA-TV show hosted by Dr. Hassan Al-Khatter, included an explanation of the passage in the Koran in which rocks and trees call for Moslems to kill Jews. Al-Khatter asks, "This is more confusing than understandable. What does a tree and a rock have to do with this struggle? Will the rock and tree be able to speak in the course of our fight with the Jews?"
Al-Khatter's answer is this: "Believe me, my brothers, after the intifada... after we saw what the Jews did against the trees and rocks in the land of Palestine, this explains the matter..." He then proceeds to speak against the "occupation" and concludes, "Everyone who is rooted in this land - people, trees, rocks - will fight shoulder-to-shoulder against everyone who is a foreigner and an occupier..."