Security officials announced yesterday that they had arrested Arin Ahmed, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman who was to take part in last week’s Rishon LeTzion suicide attack on a downtown pedestrian mall. Officials say that the attack was slated to be a double-suicide bombing, but Ahmed backed out at the last minute. Her partner, a 16 year-old boy, did blow himself up, murdering two Israelis and wounding over 40. It was reported late today that the police had also arrested an Arab man and his Jewish wife, residents of Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, who are suspected of driving both terrorists to Rishon LeTzion. The woman, who immigrated to Israel 11 years ago from the former Soviet Union, said that she did not know in advance of the terrorists\' intentions, and only realized what she had done after news of the attack became known...
An indictment was issued yesterday against Islam Farhi Jibril of Gaza for transporting an explosives belt in a Red Crescent ambulance. The charges state that on March 27, Jibril attempted to smuggle from Gaza to Ramallah an explosives belt of the type used by suicide bombers. He used his sister-in-law and her children to act as \"emergency patients\" on their way to the hospital. A collaborating dentist came along as the \"doctor.\" Israeli checkpoint soldiers were suspicious, however, and upon inspecting the ambulance, they found the explosives hidden under a stretcher upon which laid Jihad’s nephew. The driver had received the belt from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists...
Diplomatic activity is on the increase, but analysts are asking if there is any plan in the works. PLO terrorist leader Yasser Arafat will meet in Ramallah tonight with U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns and German Foreign Minister Joske Fischer. Arafat will later meet with European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana, Sharon met with Fischer for 1.5 hours today, and CIA Director George Tenet will arrive in the region tomorrow. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said today that there is reason to be \"less pessimistic\" than before about the chances for a resumption of Israel-PA negotiations. Israeli officials - most recently, IDF Gen. Amos Gilad, the coordinator in Judea and Samaria, speaking this morning - continue to say that PA reform is meaningless as long as Yasser Arafat remains in power...
An indictment was issued yesterday against Islam Farhi Jibril of Gaza for transporting an explosives belt in a Red Crescent ambulance. The charges state that on March 27, Jibril attempted to smuggle from Gaza to Ramallah an explosives belt of the type used by suicide bombers. He used his sister-in-law and her children to act as \"emergency patients\" on their way to the hospital. A collaborating dentist came along as the \"doctor.\" Israeli checkpoint soldiers were suspicious, however, and upon inspecting the ambulance, they found the explosives hidden under a stretcher upon which laid Jihad’s nephew. The driver had received the belt from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists...
Diplomatic activity is on the increase, but analysts are asking if there is any plan in the works. PLO terrorist leader Yasser Arafat will meet in Ramallah tonight with U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns and German Foreign Minister Joske Fischer. Arafat will later meet with European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana, Sharon met with Fischer for 1.5 hours today, and CIA Director George Tenet will arrive in the region tomorrow. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said today that there is reason to be \"less pessimistic\" than before about the chances for a resumption of Israel-PA negotiations. Israeli officials - most recently, IDF Gen. Amos Gilad, the coordinator in Judea and Samaria, speaking this morning - continue to say that PA reform is meaningless as long as Yasser Arafat remains in power...