Posted on 03/31/2004 8:07:19 PM PST by yonif
Majdi Abu Khamis, a Hamas terrorist active in the Jenin area, was charged this morning in a Shomron military court with planning to assassinate Knesset Member and former Foreign Minister David Levy (Likud). The terrorist apparently used the cover of construction laborers in MK Levy's hometown of Beit She'an to reconnoiter the MK's habits and home.
MK Levy told IDF Radio this morning, "The man who was captured and confessed had all of the details on my whereabouts, on my house; and he had even apparently suggested to other elements how best to carry out the plot."
Among other terrorist and counterterrorist activities during the past day: An Israeli woman was lightly injured in a rock attack on highway 443, connecting Modi'in with Jerusalem; a number of other vehicles were damaged in rock-throwing attacks in the Shomron; Arabs spread spikes on the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road resulting in damage to tires of a number of vehicles, including a number 160 bus; a motorist traveling near Ariel in the Shomron reported shots fired at his vehicle; a bomb was discovered in the village of Tel, west of Shechem; terrorists fired mortar shells at the Gaza community of Netzarim and an anti-tank rocket at the southern Gush Katif community of N'vei Dekalim; Arab gunmen shot at Israeli soldiers near the Jewish town of Ganei Tal.
In addition, IDF soldiers prevented a possible infiltration into N'vei Dekalim in Gush Katif when they opened fire at a number of terrorists seen crawling towards the community. Soldiers believe they hit two of the infiltrators. IDF troops operating in Judea and Samaria during the night arrested seven Palestinian Authority residents suspected of terrorist activities. Among those arrested are members of PLO leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah terror organization.
In related counterterrorism news, 250 Arabs and left-wing activists held a violent protest just outside Jerusalem over Israel's construction of its security fence in the region. Protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who attempted to disperse the crowd using riot gear. As of this report, the protests continue.
In addition to left-wing protests over Israel's defensive measures, the mayor of the Israeli Arab municipality of Kfar Kana yesterday sent condolences to the families of suicide bombers. In his Land Day 2004 address, Mayor Rabhi Amarah stated, "We gathered to condemn Israel's elimination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and we send condolences to all the families of the martyrs [a reference that includes suicide bombers – ed.]."
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