Posted on 08/08/2002 6:44:32 AM PDT by Israel Insider
For the second time in three months, a bomb exploded underneath a fuel tanker yesterday, lightly injuring the vehicle's driver. New security procedures recommended by police to prevent such an attack have yet to be implemented. The bombing came as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon consulted with senior officials about prospects for a "mega-terror" attack that could kill hundreds of Israelis.
Truck driver Rafi Levy, 47, of Jerusalem, was lightly injured when a bomb exploded underneath his truck as it was being repaired in a Rishon Letzion garage. Levy told police that he had parked the previous night in a secured lot in Jerusalem. Police were investigating whether Levy made stops in Arab villages on his way Wednesday to Tel Aviv, where the bomb could easily have been attached to the truck.
Only 1,000 liters out of a total capacity of 15,000 liters of fuel were in the tanker at the time of the blast. Two months ago a bomb exploded under a fuel truck at the Pi Glilot petroleum and gas depot in northern Tel Aviv. Yesterday Deputy Infrastructures Minister Naomi Blumenthal (Likud) said she would set up an internal inquiry to find out why new security procedures recommended by police after the earlier attack were not being implemented.
Intelligence officials warned Sharon yesterday that terrorists were planning "mega-terror" attacks that would kill hundreds of Israelis. According to media reports, the meeting was a "regular discussion" that dealt more with possible Israeli responses than with specific efforts to prevent such attacks.
Officials said that Iraq, Iran and Syria were pushing Palestinian terrorists to perpetrate "mega-terror" attacks as soon as possible, forcing a dramatic Israeli response that would affect American preparations for an attack on Iraq, Yediot Aharonot reported.
Among the scenarios mentioned in the meeting were the bombing of high-story buildings; attacks on energy infrastructure installations (like Pi Glilot); the targeting of passenger airplanes and freight ships; biological and chemical attacks; and attacks on symbols of Israeli sovereignty, such as the Knesset.
Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau, who participated in the meeting, said that if terrorists launched a "mega-terror" attack, Israel should retaliate with a "mega-response." Landau emphasized that Israel must work to prevent attacks in advance, and signal to the Palestinians that it would not be to their advantage to launch such attacks.
Israeli Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishky said that Israel is marching towards a "mega-terror" attack. Terrorists "are constantly searching for ways to raise the ante? Every terror attack today becomes the basis for the next attack," he told Army Radio.
"The Palestinians reached the conclusion that suicide bombing attacks of the type we're familiar with don't advance their interests, and they therefore must go for attacks that will cause hundreds of casualties," one security source told Yediot Aharonot.
Palestinian officials said they were aware Hamas was planning "mega-terror" attacks, but there was nothing they could do to stop this, the paper added. The officials said that Iran was pressuring the terrorists to perpetrate an attack in the near future.
Three months ago, security forces uncovered a plan by Peoples Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorists to drive an explosives-laden truck to the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv. The cell's leader was killed, and its other members were arrested.
That's a good idea. I wonder if the IDF would use that tactic.
no. only total victory over the vanquished will solve anything. somebody has to win and somebody has to lose for there to be lasting peace.
A mega-response against Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia (using H-bombs) would give the Israelis total victory.
if that is what it takes, ok, but i was not necessarily suggesting the use of an h-bomb. in all conflicts, somebody has to feel enough pain to change their ways.
Like maybe a mega-ton explosion in Baghdad? or Damascus? or *gasp* Mecca? hee hee...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.