Israel had been on edge for three days, hoping it would not happen - but it did: A Palestinian terrorist blew himself up around 6 PM today (Tuesday) at a Tel Aviv-area bus stop crowded with soldiers, wounding some 15 people and murdering eight. Several hours later, at around 11:30 PM Tuesday night, another murderous terrorist did the same at the Hillel Cafe, killing seven and wounding some 30 - including 4-5 in serious condition.
Both terrorists succeeded in penetrating the very tight defenses set up over the past three days by Israel's security forces, which in fact were able to thwart several other attempted attacks during this period. Hamas congratulated the perpetrators of the first attack, and claimed responsibility for the second.
The first attack occurred outside the Tzrifin Army Base and the nearby Assaf HaRofeh Hospital, to which most of the wounded were evacuated. The second attack occurred on Emek Refaim St. in the German Colony neighborhood of the capital. A eyewitness there, who appeared to be still in shock, said he saw a man carrying something under his clothes, called out to him - "and then an instant later came the boom."
Earlier report:
Traffic delays of unprecedented proportions are the order of the day in and outside Jerusalem today, as the capital was placed on high security alert this morning. Security forces, aware that Hamas terrorists are trying to avenge Israel's attempt on the life of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin three days ago, are checking each entering vehicle individually. It is feared that one or more terrorists may have already crossed the Green Line into pre-1967 Israel.
About 20 kilometers south of the capital, a Palestinian terrorist was apprehended as he tried to make his way into Efrat. Women-in-Green's Nadia Matar, who was the first to accost the terrorist and led to his arrest, reports that he was armed with a knife and a suicide letter written in English. No one was hurt.
A high alert was also placed last night on the Shomron communities of Kedumim, Elon Moreh, Itamar, and others. Residents were asked to remain in their homes while security forces combed the area. Terrorist warnings were also received for the Green Line area near Kfar Saba and other towns, as well as in the Nachal I'ron region between Hadera and Afula.
Several incidents of Palestinian violence were recorded today, including shooting in Gush Katif, Shechem, Tul Karem, and elsewhere. Four mortar shells were fired at a town in Gush Katif last night; no one was hurt.
The Shomron military court sentenced Fatah terrorist Jalil Raad to four life sentences yesterday, plus another 40 years. He murdered a policewoman and wounded another eight Israelis in an attack in N'vei Yaakov in February 2002. He was also convicted of enlisting the terrorist who murdered three Itamar yeshiva high school students three months later.
Both terrorists succeeded in penetrating the very tight defenses set up over the past three days by Israel's security forces, which in fact were able to thwart several other attempted attacks during this period. Hamas congratulated the perpetrators of the first attack, and claimed responsibility for the second.
The first attack occurred outside the Tzrifin Army Base and the nearby Assaf HaRofeh Hospital, to which most of the wounded were evacuated. The second attack occurred on Emek Refaim St. in the German Colony neighborhood of the capital. A eyewitness there, who appeared to be still in shock, said he saw a man carrying something under his clothes, called out to him - "and then an instant later came the boom."
Earlier report:
Traffic delays of unprecedented proportions are the order of the day in and outside Jerusalem today, as the capital was placed on high security alert this morning. Security forces, aware that Hamas terrorists are trying to avenge Israel's attempt on the life of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin three days ago, are checking each entering vehicle individually. It is feared that one or more terrorists may have already crossed the Green Line into pre-1967 Israel.
About 20 kilometers south of the capital, a Palestinian terrorist was apprehended as he tried to make his way into Efrat. Women-in-Green's Nadia Matar, who was the first to accost the terrorist and led to his arrest, reports that he was armed with a knife and a suicide letter written in English. No one was hurt.
A high alert was also placed last night on the Shomron communities of Kedumim, Elon Moreh, Itamar, and others. Residents were asked to remain in their homes while security forces combed the area. Terrorist warnings were also received for the Green Line area near Kfar Saba and other towns, as well as in the Nachal I'ron region between Hadera and Afula.
Several incidents of Palestinian violence were recorded today, including shooting in Gush Katif, Shechem, Tul Karem, and elsewhere. Four mortar shells were fired at a town in Gush Katif last night; no one was hurt.
The Shomron military court sentenced Fatah terrorist Jalil Raad to four life sentences yesterday, plus another 40 years. He murdered a policewoman and wounded another eight Israelis in an attack in N'vei Yaakov in February 2002. He was also convicted of enlisting the terrorist who murdered three Itamar yeshiva high school students three months later.