Israel\'s anti-terrorism \"Operation Defensive Shield\" exacted a heavy price this morning. Thirteen reserves soldiers were killed in Jenin when they entered a building sprinkled with explosives; terrorists detonated the bombs by remote control, causing the building to collapse on top of the soldiers. Gunfire was then directed at the force that went to rescue them. Seven soldiers were wounded, including one seriously, in the ambush.
The fierce fighting in Jenin finally ended early this evening, after the last pocket of Moslem Arab terrorist resistance in the city was closed off in an area only 25 by 25 meters in size. Hundreds of armed terrorists - mostly members of Islamic Jihad and Hamas - were killed. The Israeli troops were forced to face dozens of explosives and bombs placed by the terrorists throughout the battle venue, some of which contained many tens of kilograms of explosive material.
Israel TV military commentator Ron Ben-Yeshai appeared downright angry when he began his broadcast early this evening. He said that the fighting in Jenin had just ended, and then added with emotion, \"I would like to emphasize: The fighting in Jenin was so hard and so costly not only because of the high motivation on the Palestinian side [to continue fighting], but also because the army was prevented from using its full force. It was prevented from blowing up buildings - something that the Palestinians did do; the army was prevented from collapsing buildings on their inhabitants - something that the Palestinians did do without hesitation; this fighting, therefore, which was waged by trying to preserve [Arab] civilian lives, cost us many victims.\"
Other commentators emphasized repeatedly that the pressure on Israel to end the offensive appears likely to result in its failure. One said that at the current rate, Operation Defensive Shield will not result in \"40 years of quiet, or even 40 months, and maybe not even 4 days...\" Others spoke of the many Hamas and Islamic Jihad members that could be in hiding, ready to resume terrorist activities as soon as possible: \"The required \'four weeks\' that military leaders spoke of were apparently needed in order to comb the area thoroughly and find these remaining terrorists - something that does not look likely to happen at this stage.\" It was also noted that the 13 bomb \"factories\" that were uncovered and destroyed in Jenin would not be difficult for the Arabs to replace, if given the chance.
The IDF\'s fierce fighting in the last remaining square meters of Jenin did not resort to an all-out bombardment of the area until this afternoon. In the words of one senior officer, only \"surgical procedures\" were employed: Ground forces covered by helicopters attacked the hold-out terrorists, who laid many powerful bombs against the advancing Israelis and shot sniper fire at them. The main fighting was carried out by Golani, naval commando, and reserve soldiers. The terrorists also fired this morning at Red Crescent ambulances that came to evacuate their own wounded and dead. Israeli defense sources say that Arafat wants the bodies to remain there in order to leave the impression of an Israeli massacre in Jenin. The number of Arab dead is estimated at 200 or more.
Reuven, an Israeli observer in Jenin, spoke with Arutz-7 today from the site while the battles were going on:
\"My impression is that the army is playing with kid gloves. It should take megaphones and announce that whoever doesn\'t come out now, the building will soon be collapsed on him. They [the army] are endangering themselves and the soldiers... A short time ago we had a terrible incident when they went into a building and ... The problem is that the army is trying to be too humane, but - it is incomprehensible! I truly can\'t understand! [If it\'s because the army is afraid that pictures of dead terrorists will rouse the world against us], then what about the pictures of our dead! Why don\'t they show those pictures!?\" He said that the soldiers are fighting like true heroes, but \"they are not being given the correct orders. If there are suspects in a building, the whole building should be destroyed! Who else in the world would act the way we\'re acting with such murderers?! What kind of wantonness is this?!\"
At today\'s funeral of Sgt. Shmuel Weiss (see below), who was killed in Jenin yesterday, Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior criticized government policy that \"gives precedence to endangering the lives of IDF soldiers rather than hurting Arab civilians.\" This \"distorted morality\" leads to Israeli blood-letting, Rabbi Lior said. Unnamed defense sources, too, said that lives could have been spared had battles planes been employed in Jenin.
The fierce fighting in Jenin finally ended early this evening, after the last pocket of Moslem Arab terrorist resistance in the city was closed off in an area only 25 by 25 meters in size. Hundreds of armed terrorists - mostly members of Islamic Jihad and Hamas - were killed. The Israeli troops were forced to face dozens of explosives and bombs placed by the terrorists throughout the battle venue, some of which contained many tens of kilograms of explosive material.
Israel TV military commentator Ron Ben-Yeshai appeared downright angry when he began his broadcast early this evening. He said that the fighting in Jenin had just ended, and then added with emotion, \"I would like to emphasize: The fighting in Jenin was so hard and so costly not only because of the high motivation on the Palestinian side [to continue fighting], but also because the army was prevented from using its full force. It was prevented from blowing up buildings - something that the Palestinians did do; the army was prevented from collapsing buildings on their inhabitants - something that the Palestinians did do without hesitation; this fighting, therefore, which was waged by trying to preserve [Arab] civilian lives, cost us many victims.\"
Other commentators emphasized repeatedly that the pressure on Israel to end the offensive appears likely to result in its failure. One said that at the current rate, Operation Defensive Shield will not result in \"40 years of quiet, or even 40 months, and maybe not even 4 days...\" Others spoke of the many Hamas and Islamic Jihad members that could be in hiding, ready to resume terrorist activities as soon as possible: \"The required \'four weeks\' that military leaders spoke of were apparently needed in order to comb the area thoroughly and find these remaining terrorists - something that does not look likely to happen at this stage.\" It was also noted that the 13 bomb \"factories\" that were uncovered and destroyed in Jenin would not be difficult for the Arabs to replace, if given the chance.
The IDF\'s fierce fighting in the last remaining square meters of Jenin did not resort to an all-out bombardment of the area until this afternoon. In the words of one senior officer, only \"surgical procedures\" were employed: Ground forces covered by helicopters attacked the hold-out terrorists, who laid many powerful bombs against the advancing Israelis and shot sniper fire at them. The main fighting was carried out by Golani, naval commando, and reserve soldiers. The terrorists also fired this morning at Red Crescent ambulances that came to evacuate their own wounded and dead. Israeli defense sources say that Arafat wants the bodies to remain there in order to leave the impression of an Israeli massacre in Jenin. The number of Arab dead is estimated at 200 or more.
Reuven, an Israeli observer in Jenin, spoke with Arutz-7 today from the site while the battles were going on:
\"My impression is that the army is playing with kid gloves. It should take megaphones and announce that whoever doesn\'t come out now, the building will soon be collapsed on him. They [the army] are endangering themselves and the soldiers... A short time ago we had a terrible incident when they went into a building and ... The problem is that the army is trying to be too humane, but - it is incomprehensible! I truly can\'t understand! [If it\'s because the army is afraid that pictures of dead terrorists will rouse the world against us], then what about the pictures of our dead! Why don\'t they show those pictures!?\" He said that the soldiers are fighting like true heroes, but \"they are not being given the correct orders. If there are suspects in a building, the whole building should be destroyed! Who else in the world would act the way we\'re acting with such murderers?! What kind of wantonness is this?!\"
At today\'s funeral of Sgt. Shmuel Weiss (see below), who was killed in Jenin yesterday, Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior criticized government policy that \"gives precedence to endangering the lives of IDF soldiers rather than hurting Arab civilians.\" This \"distorted morality\" leads to Israeli blood-letting, Rabbi Lior said. Unnamed defense sources, too, said that lives could have been spared had battles planes been employed in Jenin.