The security forces continue to be on high alert. Police have erected checkpoints around Tul Karem, from where, according to intelligence warnings, another suicide terrorist may attempt to depart. Several people of the village of Rantis have been arrested, including family members of yesterday's suspected murderous terrorists. Army forces and GSS agents arrested 14 Islamic terrorists in the Jenin area last night. It has been released for publication that this past Saturday night, security forces thwarted an attack scheduled for Hod HaSharon. Alert Border Guardsmen saw two suspicious figures approaching the community of Oranit, stopped them and found them carrying two Kalachnikov rifles. The terrorists said they planned an attack that very night.
Also last night: Arabs opened fire at soldiers in Shechem, and fired rockets and threw grenades at IDF outposts on the Israeli-Egyptian border and in Gush Katif. No one was hurt.
The two Hamas terrorists who were killed in Hevron last night were responsible for the deaths of no fewer than 55 Israelis. They organized last month's #2 bus bombing, the Haifa bus bombing, and attacks in French Hill, Hevron, Kiryat Arba, Karmei Tzur, and Adurah.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tried to avoid cutting short his visit to India, but after the second attack last night, he felt that he had no choice. He will return this evening, following his meetings in India today. Left-wing journalist Shalom Yerushalmi, one of the 150 Israelis participating in the trip, said, "I have to hand it to him, he was truly the recipient of genuine friendliness on the part of the Indian leadership... and this was truly an important visit. Sharon really forged a new path here in relations with this very important power."