Hamas claimed responsibility for the last night\'s Darom attack, saying it was in response to the liquidation of Mahmoud Abu Honod. Israel was finally successful last night, on its third attempt, in killing Hamas leader Abu Honod, thus completing the wiping out of the Hamas leadership in Shechem. Five other leaders have been killed by Israel in the past few months. Three Israeli soldiers were killed in August 2000 during a bungled attempt to get Abu Honod.
Israeli helicopters targeted Abu Honod last night as he was driving in a car; two others with him were killed on the spot, but he got out of the car and started running, and was killed seconds later by another round of helicopter fire. Abu Honod was reponsible for the killing of at least 21 Israelis during the previous five years - including the Machane Yehuda and Ben-Yehuda street suicide bombings in the summer of 1997.
Israeli helicopters targeted Abu Honod last night as he was driving in a car; two others with him were killed on the spot, but he got out of the car and started running, and was killed seconds later by another round of helicopter fire. Abu Honod was reponsible for the killing of at least 21 Israelis during the previous five years - including the Machane Yehuda and Ben-Yehuda street suicide bombings in the summer of 1997.