While most Israelis spent yesterday\'s Independence Day holiday in the park or at the beach, the IDF carried on as usual defending the country. Last night soldiers thwarted an attempted terrorist attack in the isolated Gaza community of Netzarim. The forces identified several armed terrorists on their way towards the community and shot at them. At least one was hit, and the others managed to escape.
Earlier in the day, terrorists attempted to sneak out from Gaza to the Kibbutz Nachal Oz area near the Karni Crossing. IDF soldiers fired on the Arabs, a gun battle erupted, and the terrorists escaped back into PLO-controlled Gaza. Searches conducted afterwards in the vicinity of the attempted infiltration revealed a number of gun magazines and an explosive charge. A bomb went off in the same area today; no one was hurt.
In Bethlehem yesterday soldiers shot and wounded two Arabs who left the Church of the Nativity. The Arabs were approaching the soldiers and refused numerous signals to stop. One was treated on the spot by IDF medics, while the other ran back into the church. A priest being held captive by Arab gunmen inside the church fell ill, and was allowed to leave the compound for medical treatment. IDF medics treated him on the spot and then evacuated him to the hospital.
On Tuesday, IDF soldiers discovered a powerful pipe bomb in the Omar Mosque located near Bethlehem\'s Church of the Nativity Compound. Sappers neutralized the device in a controlled explosion. The IDF spokesman says that the incident \"is another example of the cynical use of holy places by Palestinian terrorists.\" Earlier in the day, forces conducting searches in a Ramallah apartment found two explosive belts, to be used in suicide attacks against Israelis.
Earlier in the day, terrorists attempted to sneak out from Gaza to the Kibbutz Nachal Oz area near the Karni Crossing. IDF soldiers fired on the Arabs, a gun battle erupted, and the terrorists escaped back into PLO-controlled Gaza. Searches conducted afterwards in the vicinity of the attempted infiltration revealed a number of gun magazines and an explosive charge. A bomb went off in the same area today; no one was hurt.
In Bethlehem yesterday soldiers shot and wounded two Arabs who left the Church of the Nativity. The Arabs were approaching the soldiers and refused numerous signals to stop. One was treated on the spot by IDF medics, while the other ran back into the church. A priest being held captive by Arab gunmen inside the church fell ill, and was allowed to leave the compound for medical treatment. IDF medics treated him on the spot and then evacuated him to the hospital.
On Tuesday, IDF soldiers discovered a powerful pipe bomb in the Omar Mosque located near Bethlehem\'s Church of the Nativity Compound. Sappers neutralized the device in a controlled explosion. The IDF spokesman says that the incident \"is another example of the cynical use of holy places by Palestinian terrorists.\" Earlier in the day, forces conducting searches in a Ramallah apartment found two explosive belts, to be used in suicide attacks against Israelis.