Has Arafat delivered the ceasefire goods he promised? For one thing, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli patrol traveling within Israeli territory near Rafiach, and a heavy battle has been raging there all afternoon. Over 15 Arabs have been wounded, and two Israeli soldiers were also lightly hurt. The Arab attack includes anti-tank fire, light-weapons fire, grenades and Molotov cocktails. The IDF spokesman denied PA allegations that Israeli forces entered PA territory. Also late this afternoon, mortar shells were fired towards Morag and Atzmonah in Gush Katif.
The above was not the first violation of Arafat\'s ceasefire \"orders\" since last night. Residents of Kfar Darom in Gaza spent the night in their shelters after two mortar shells were fired upon their town; no one was hurt. Earlier, the Shomron community of Chomesh had been attacked by terrorist gunfire. This morning, an Israeli woman was lightly hurt when a terrorist bomb exploded near the community of Barkan, on the Trans-Shomron highway west of Ariel. Comprised of a gas canister and explosives, the bomb was detonated by remote control. Security officials closed the road for a short time. Terrorist organizations had earlier puzzled observers by announcing that they would accept Arafat\'s ceasefire order, but that the intifada would continue.
The halting of Palestinian media incitement is another Israeli demand as part of the ceasefire - but it appears to be continuing apace. Voice of Palestine Radio again broadcast today that the two Arabs who were killed when their truck overturned yesterday were killed by \"settlers.\" The official news broadcast opened with a statement by an official Palestinian source calling for an \"end to attacks by settlers against Palestinians, such as the killing of the two yesterday…\" Due to a steering-system problem, the truck overturned yesterday on a steep downhill slope on the Ramallah bypass highway about a mile south of the new Assaf Outpost between Beit El and Ofrah. In addition, songs praising martyrdom and violence against Israel continue to be heard; television captions quote the father of the Dolphinarium suicide murderer saying that he is proud of his son and wishes he had 20 more like him.
How about the arrest of Hamas terrorists or the collection of illegal weapons? These too have not yet begun. In fact, Brig.-Gen. Amos Gilad of IDF Intelligence disclosed today that the day before the suicide slaughter in Tel Aviv, Arafat freed three terrorist experts in explosive materials, for the express purpose of increasing the number of casualties in future attacks.
The above was not the first violation of Arafat\'s ceasefire \"orders\" since last night. Residents of Kfar Darom in Gaza spent the night in their shelters after two mortar shells were fired upon their town; no one was hurt. Earlier, the Shomron community of Chomesh had been attacked by terrorist gunfire. This morning, an Israeli woman was lightly hurt when a terrorist bomb exploded near the community of Barkan, on the Trans-Shomron highway west of Ariel. Comprised of a gas canister and explosives, the bomb was detonated by remote control. Security officials closed the road for a short time. Terrorist organizations had earlier puzzled observers by announcing that they would accept Arafat\'s ceasefire order, but that the intifada would continue.
The halting of Palestinian media incitement is another Israeli demand as part of the ceasefire - but it appears to be continuing apace. Voice of Palestine Radio again broadcast today that the two Arabs who were killed when their truck overturned yesterday were killed by \"settlers.\" The official news broadcast opened with a statement by an official Palestinian source calling for an \"end to attacks by settlers against Palestinians, such as the killing of the two yesterday…\" Due to a steering-system problem, the truck overturned yesterday on a steep downhill slope on the Ramallah bypass highway about a mile south of the new Assaf Outpost between Beit El and Ofrah. In addition, songs praising martyrdom and violence against Israel continue to be heard; television captions quote the father of the Dolphinarium suicide murderer saying that he is proud of his son and wishes he had 20 more like him.
How about the arrest of Hamas terrorists or the collection of illegal weapons? These too have not yet begun. In fact, Brig.-Gen. Amos Gilad of IDF Intelligence disclosed today that the day before the suicide slaughter in Tel Aviv, Arafat freed three terrorist experts in explosive materials, for the express purpose of increasing the number of casualties in future attacks.