The IDF registered only partial success in its two latest attempts to kill known terrorists in PA territories, last night and this morning. In the first attempt, in Gaza, it did not hit its primary target, nor did it even know that another \"big fish\" was in the vicinity, but did succeed in killing a lower-level terrorist. In the second attack, in Shechem today, two terrorists were wounded.
Now for the details: Helicopter gunships fired last night at a convoy of terrorists in Gaza, but apparently hit the wrong car. The vehicle that was hit was carrying Bilal Al-Ghoul, a terrorist in his own right and the son of the intended target Adnan Al-Ghoul. The latter was sitting in the second car next to Mohammed Def, for whom Israel has been sorely looking since the massively fatal Jerusalem bombings in 1996. During the funeral of Bilal Al-Ghoul today, fighting erupted between rival armed gangs. Earlier this week, an Arab was killed in similar violence during a funeral.
This morning, the army fired two rockets at the car of senior Fatah terrorist Jihad al-Masimi in Shechem. Both Al-Masimi, who commands the special PLO police forces there, and his bodyguard, were hit and are in light-to-moderate condition. It is not yet clear if the missiles were fired from Mt. Eval or from a helicopter. Al-Masimi was responsible for many terrorist attacks in the past, including the brazen shooting six weeks ago at the Shmuelyan family outside Brachah; he was also in the midst of planning additional ones for the near future.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces in Gaza, near the Egyptian-Israeli border, thwarted a terrorist attempt last night when they saw a terrorist approaching them and opened fire. Later investigations proved that he had in fact been on his way to placing a bomb.
An IDF officer and three soldiers were lightly wounded last night during an exchange of fire with Arabs near Tul Karem (western Shomron, near Netanya). Palestinians fired six anti-tank grenades and four other grenades towards Israeli targets in Gaza; they caused no casualties or damage. Arabs shot at the Dagan neighborhood in Efrat, and firing continued this afternoon towards Jewish homes in Hevron
Now for the details: Helicopter gunships fired last night at a convoy of terrorists in Gaza, but apparently hit the wrong car. The vehicle that was hit was carrying Bilal Al-Ghoul, a terrorist in his own right and the son of the intended target Adnan Al-Ghoul. The latter was sitting in the second car next to Mohammed Def, for whom Israel has been sorely looking since the massively fatal Jerusalem bombings in 1996. During the funeral of Bilal Al-Ghoul today, fighting erupted between rival armed gangs. Earlier this week, an Arab was killed in similar violence during a funeral.
This morning, the army fired two rockets at the car of senior Fatah terrorist Jihad al-Masimi in Shechem. Both Al-Masimi, who commands the special PLO police forces there, and his bodyguard, were hit and are in light-to-moderate condition. It is not yet clear if the missiles were fired from Mt. Eval or from a helicopter. Al-Masimi was responsible for many terrorist attacks in the past, including the brazen shooting six weeks ago at the Shmuelyan family outside Brachah; he was also in the midst of planning additional ones for the near future.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces in Gaza, near the Egyptian-Israeli border, thwarted a terrorist attempt last night when they saw a terrorist approaching them and opened fire. Later investigations proved that he had in fact been on his way to placing a bomb.
An IDF officer and three soldiers were lightly wounded last night during an exchange of fire with Arabs near Tul Karem (western Shomron, near Netanya). Palestinians fired six anti-tank grenades and four other grenades towards Israeli targets in Gaza; they caused no casualties or damage. Arabs shot at the Dagan neighborhood in Efrat, and firing continued this afternoon towards Jewish homes in Hevron