Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz held a special consultation with the top IDF brass today, in the wake of the grave incident on the northern border yesterday. Sgt. Yan Rochansky, 21, of Herzliya was killed, and another soldier was seriously wounded, by a Hizbullah-launched anti-tank missile. The rocket hit their extra-large D9 bulldozer as they were clearing mines placed along the border by Hizbullah terrorists.
The decision after the meeting: "We reserve the right to retaliate against Hizbullah."
Rochansky is the 10th soldier, and 16th Israeli, to have been killed by Hizbullah terrorists since Israel withdrew from Lebanon three and a half years ago. It is assumed that Israel will retaliate, though not in a major way. IDF Northern Commander Maj.-Gen. Benny Ganz said last night, "I would advise those on the northern side of the border [in Lebanon] to start to worry."
Yan Rochansky immigrated to Israel 14 years ago with his parents and younger brother. Relatives from Leningrad are expected to arrive for his funeral tomorrow.
The missile hit the D9 while its two-man crew was engaged, together with others, in clearing a minefield that was discovered two weeks ago near Moshav Zar'it, due north of Maalot. The work was postponed until yesterday because of the inclement weather in the area.
Ganz further said that he would not advise the Hizbullah terrorists to use their missile power in an attempt to pressure Israel regarding the issue of the captives. "If they do," he said, "our response is liable to stop not at the border, but much further north." Israel agreed two months ago to release some 400 prisoners in exchange for kidnapped civilian Elchanan Tenenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers killed by Hizbullah in October 2000. The deal has been held up, however, because Israel does not agree to release terrorist Samir Kuntar. Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea in 1979, abducted and murdered Danny Haran and his young daughter Einat, and killed policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who became the fourth victim of the attack when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Kuntar is the only remaining imprisoned terrorist from that attack, as two of his colleagues were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and a third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985.
Sources close to Defense Minister Mofaz say that the deadly attack yesterday proves that Syrian dictator Assad's words in favor of negotiations with Israel are meaningless. Hizbullah is backed by both Syria and Iran.
The decision after the meeting: "We reserve the right to retaliate against Hizbullah."
Rochansky is the 10th soldier, and 16th Israeli, to have been killed by Hizbullah terrorists since Israel withdrew from Lebanon three and a half years ago. It is assumed that Israel will retaliate, though not in a major way. IDF Northern Commander Maj.-Gen. Benny Ganz said last night, "I would advise those on the northern side of the border [in Lebanon] to start to worry."
Yan Rochansky immigrated to Israel 14 years ago with his parents and younger brother. Relatives from Leningrad are expected to arrive for his funeral tomorrow.
The missile hit the D9 while its two-man crew was engaged, together with others, in clearing a minefield that was discovered two weeks ago near Moshav Zar'it, due north of Maalot. The work was postponed until yesterday because of the inclement weather in the area.
Ganz further said that he would not advise the Hizbullah terrorists to use their missile power in an attempt to pressure Israel regarding the issue of the captives. "If they do," he said, "our response is liable to stop not at the border, but much further north." Israel agreed two months ago to release some 400 prisoners in exchange for kidnapped civilian Elchanan Tenenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers killed by Hizbullah in October 2000. The deal has been held up, however, because Israel does not agree to release terrorist Samir Kuntar. Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea in 1979, abducted and murdered Danny Haran and his young daughter Einat, and killed policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who became the fourth victim of the attack when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Kuntar is the only remaining imprisoned terrorist from that attack, as two of his colleagues were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and a third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985.
Sources close to Defense Minister Mofaz say that the deadly attack yesterday proves that Syrian dictator Assad's words in favor of negotiations with Israel are meaningless. Hizbullah is backed by both Syria and Iran.