The IDF, escorted by two Apache helicopters, used 40 jeeps and tanks before leaving the Palestinian Authority (PA) city, often called the terror capital of Israel. Troops surrounded the home of Islamic Jihad leader Abdel Khalim Izzadin, who surrendered along with three other terrorists. Army soldiers did not suffer any injuries despite scattered gunfire.
The offensive was the first concrete result of a high-level security consultation that followed Wednesday's murderous attack in Hadera. The attack claimed five lives and wounded 28 others. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz convened the consultation in Tel Aviv, and resolved to wage comprehensive war - by the army, police, and General Security Service - against the terrorist infrastructures in the Shomron. The series of measures decided upon included these:
* A general closure has been clamped down on all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Gaza's Karni and Erez Crossings have been closed, after being opened only yesterday morning. Only in cases of special humanitarian need will goods be allowed out of or into the closed areas.
* The Air Force bombed open areas in northern Gaza from where Kassam rockets were fired, as well as a road leading to the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, only 3-4 aerial kilometers from Sderot. Additional such missions will be implemented when necessary.
* Ground offensives in northern Shomron and northern Gaza will be initiated, and are slated to last a number of days.
* The Islamic Jihad will be especially targeted: Targeted killings of particular terrorists will resume, arrests will be made, private Arab vehicles will be banned in northern Shomron, and illegal structures will be razed. The army has generally restrained from taking down illegal buildings so as not to harm the Arab population.
Security forces operating in Judea and Samaria arrested 11 Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists in various Shomron areas last night. Among them was the father of the Islamic Jihad terrorist who blew himself up in Hadera yesterday.
Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "The army's operations will be unceasing and widespread until terrorism stops. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has not taken significant steps to fight terrorism. Under no circumstances will we accept continued terrorism."
Sharon's words were reminiscent of past statements he has made. On Aug. 12, 2003, for instance, addressing thousands of Birthright participants in Jerusalem, Sharon said there would be no progress on the diplomatic front as long as the terror continues and the PA takes no action against it. He placed the blame on [PA leader] Abu Mazen, who, Sharon said, "is not fulfilling his obligation to fight terrorism."
Exactly three months earlier, on May 12, 2003, Sharon said that the time was ripe for Abu Mazen to take action against the terrorists: "If they are given a chance to re-organize, to manufacture and smuggle in weapons, they will be quiet for a few months - and then [the terrorism] will erupt again. This will, of course, force us to take very vigorous action, because we will under no circumstances accept terrorism against us."
Sharon told visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "If the PA does not take serious and tangible action against terrorism, there will be no diplomatic progress and that would be a pity. In such a situation, I will not meet with Abu Mazen, and the Palestinians are losing all of their national dreams due to this situation. We are not satisfied that Abu Mazen has condemned [the Hadera attack]. This does not help us."
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and told him to crack down on terrorists.
The offensive was the first concrete result of a high-level security consultation that followed Wednesday's murderous attack in Hadera. The attack claimed five lives and wounded 28 others. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz convened the consultation in Tel Aviv, and resolved to wage comprehensive war - by the army, police, and General Security Service - against the terrorist infrastructures in the Shomron. The series of measures decided upon included these:
* A general closure has been clamped down on all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Gaza's Karni and Erez Crossings have been closed, after being opened only yesterday morning. Only in cases of special humanitarian need will goods be allowed out of or into the closed areas.
* The Air Force bombed open areas in northern Gaza from where Kassam rockets were fired, as well as a road leading to the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, only 3-4 aerial kilometers from Sderot. Additional such missions will be implemented when necessary.
* Ground offensives in northern Shomron and northern Gaza will be initiated, and are slated to last a number of days.
* The Islamic Jihad will be especially targeted: Targeted killings of particular terrorists will resume, arrests will be made, private Arab vehicles will be banned in northern Shomron, and illegal structures will be razed. The army has generally restrained from taking down illegal buildings so as not to harm the Arab population.
Security forces operating in Judea and Samaria arrested 11 Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists in various Shomron areas last night. Among them was the father of the Islamic Jihad terrorist who blew himself up in Hadera yesterday.
Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "The army's operations will be unceasing and widespread until terrorism stops. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has not taken significant steps to fight terrorism. Under no circumstances will we accept continued terrorism."
Sharon's words were reminiscent of past statements he has made. On Aug. 12, 2003, for instance, addressing thousands of Birthright participants in Jerusalem, Sharon said there would be no progress on the diplomatic front as long as the terror continues and the PA takes no action against it. He placed the blame on [PA leader] Abu Mazen, who, Sharon said, "is not fulfilling his obligation to fight terrorism."
Exactly three months earlier, on May 12, 2003, Sharon said that the time was ripe for Abu Mazen to take action against the terrorists: "If they are given a chance to re-organize, to manufacture and smuggle in weapons, they will be quiet for a few months - and then [the terrorism] will erupt again. This will, of course, force us to take very vigorous action, because we will under no circumstances accept terrorism against us."
Sharon told visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "If the PA does not take serious and tangible action against terrorism, there will be no diplomatic progress and that would be a pity. In such a situation, I will not meet with Abu Mazen, and the Palestinians are losing all of their national dreams due to this situation. We are not satisfied that Abu Mazen has condemned [the Hadera attack]. This does not help us."
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and told him to crack down on terrorists.