Several Arab terrorist organizations have admitted that they failed in recent attempts to kidnap Israeli soldiers and citizens.
Palestinian Media Watch, which monitors Palestinian Authority media, cites a front-page article in the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on Aug. 27, which stated: "The Al Aqsa Companies and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade said at a joint press conference... that they pointed out several attempts during the last three months to kidnap soldiers, but they have not succeeded."
The goal is to use the Israeli hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of Arab terrorists imprisoned in Israeli prisons.
This past January, Israel released more than 400 prisoners to the Hizbullah terror organization, in exchange for the bodies of three kidnapped-and-murdered Israeli soldiers and one living kidnapped Israeli civilian. Some Israeli leaders warned at the time that releasing a disproportionate number of Arab terrorists would fuel the Arab desire to kidnap more Israelis. One of those was Knesset Member Yuri Stern (National Union), who declared: "This exchange is an act of insanity, contrary to all principles of the war against terrorism. It is liable to strengthen Hizbullah and encourage abductions of other Israeli citizens."
The Arab terrorist organizations say they will continue in their attempts to abduct Israelis. On Aug. 24, Al-Quds reported, "Member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Mahmoud Khalaf, said that two ways stand before the Palestinians for solving the prisoner issue: One through political negotiations, and the other through the abduction of soldiers, as happened with the Hizbullah."
In other terror-war news, alert IDF forces at a randomly placed checkpoint in the Jordan Valley yesterday found 12 Kalachnikov rifles and 12 cartridges in a Palestinian Authority taxi. The driver was detained for questioning... A Kassam rocket was fired at Sderot this morning, landing harmlessly in an open area.
Palestinian Media Watch, which monitors Palestinian Authority media, cites a front-page article in the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on Aug. 27, which stated: "The Al Aqsa Companies and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade said at a joint press conference... that they pointed out several attempts during the last three months to kidnap soldiers, but they have not succeeded."
The goal is to use the Israeli hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of Arab terrorists imprisoned in Israeli prisons.
This past January, Israel released more than 400 prisoners to the Hizbullah terror organization, in exchange for the bodies of three kidnapped-and-murdered Israeli soldiers and one living kidnapped Israeli civilian. Some Israeli leaders warned at the time that releasing a disproportionate number of Arab terrorists would fuel the Arab desire to kidnap more Israelis. One of those was Knesset Member Yuri Stern (National Union), who declared: "This exchange is an act of insanity, contrary to all principles of the war against terrorism. It is liable to strengthen Hizbullah and encourage abductions of other Israeli citizens."
The Arab terrorist organizations say they will continue in their attempts to abduct Israelis. On Aug. 24, Al-Quds reported, "Member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Mahmoud Khalaf, said that two ways stand before the Palestinians for solving the prisoner issue: One through political negotiations, and the other through the abduction of soldiers, as happened with the Hizbullah."
In other terror-war news, alert IDF forces at a randomly placed checkpoint in the Jordan Valley yesterday found 12 Kalachnikov rifles and 12 cartridges in a Palestinian Authority taxi. The driver was detained for questioning... A Kassam rocket was fired at Sderot this morning, landing harmlessly in an open area.