Posted on 11/13/2002 6:48:26 AM PST by yatros from flatwater
Cousin of Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan suspected in kibbutz massacre
Security forces arrested a number of Palestinian terrorist suspects in the West Bank on Tuesday as a manhunt continued for Tanzim terrorist Sirhan Sirhan, blamed for the shooting attack in Kibbutz Metzer on Sunday night.
Security sources confirmed Wednesday that they suspect that Sirhan, a resident of the Tulkarm refugee camp, carried out the attack and Palestinian reports claimed that his uncle was among those arrested on Tuesday by security forces.
The suspect is related to Sirhan B. Sirhan, the east Jerusalemite who assassinated US Senator Robert Kennedy in 1968.
Kennedy was shot dead in 1968 at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel by Sirhan Sirhan, a 25-year-old Palestinian immigrant who said he felt betrayed by Kennedy's support for Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. At the time, Kennedy was a Democratic senator running for president.
Israeli security sources said they believe the gunman in the Kibbutz Metzer attack is a distant cousin of the Kennedy assassin, and may have been named after his infamous relative.
The Kennedy assassin is serving a life sentence in a California state prison. His lawyers have suggested that if he was released from prison he could return to the Palestinian territories.
Sirhan has been denied parole 10 times and prosecutors say his return to the West Bank could further enflame the Israeli-Palestinian conflicMeanwhile, the Tanzim Al-Aksa Brigades on Tuesday vowed to continue attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, after claiming Sunday's attack at Metzer in which five people were killed.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, security forces arrested two Palestinian fugitives in Ramin, east of Tulkarm; another in al-Atra, northeast of the city; one in Beit Aida, west of Nablus; and another in Nablus.
In Dir abu Mashal, northwest of Ramallah, security forces arrested 10 Palestinians wanted for questioning during house-to-house searches.
Along the Green Line, security forces remained on high alert after beefing up their presence in the area due to the numerous warnings of terrorist attacks.
IDF troops demolished the Shuweikeh home of senior Fatah commander in the Tulkarm area Mohammed Naifeh, said to be responsible for dispatching the terrorist who perpetrated the Kibbutz Metzer shooting.
"The destruction of terrorists' homes serves as a message to suicide bombers and their accomplices in terror that they will pay a price for their actions," an IDF Spokesman statement said.
In recent months, the IDF has demolished a number of homes belonging to terrorists and suicide bombers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, hoping to deter potential suicide bombers.
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fired an anti-tank rocket at an Israeli convoy traveling on the Karni-Netzarim road. No one was wounded in the attack.
During the day, security forces detonated a number of bombs comprised of explosives and mortar shells spotted by soldiers near the Gush Katif junction.
In the morning, Palestinians fired three mortar shells at Kfar Darom. One of them exploded inside the community but did not cause any casualties or damage.
Shots were also fired at IDF posts at Tel Katifa and at troops deployed near Rafah.
In the West Bank, shots were fired and a bomb detonated near an Israeli vehicle traveling near Salem, south of Eilon Moreh. No one was wounded, but the car was damaged.
(With The Associated Press)
Both harbored hatred for Jews and saw striking at the U.S. as suitable vengeance.
Metzer terrorist Sirhan probably not related to Kennedy assassin
Israeli officials on Wednesday identified the gunman who carried out the bloody attack on Kibbutz Metzer as Sirhan Sirhan, a 19-year-old Al Aqsa gunman from the Tulkarm refugee camp.
The officials initially said they believed he was a distant relative of the assassin by the same name who killed Sen. Robert Kennedy in 1968 - but later withdrew that claim.
Relatives of the suspected gunman said they had no blood ties to the Kennedy assassin who came from the predominantly Christian village of Taibeh in the West Bank.
The Sirhans in the Tulkarm camp are Muslims. Earlier this week, Israeli troops searched the homes of Sirhan clan members and detained two uncles of the suspected gunman.
Which doesn't make his point any less valid.
"I think Robert Kennedy would have made a lousy president". Here are my reasons...
The statement above can be debated between civilized people of differing opinions.
The only Palestinian to make a positive contribution to civilization because he kept Robert from becoming President( thank god).
Calling the assassination of a political candidate a positive contribution shows me that your hatred outweighs your logic. You should rethink your opinion and apologize. Apologising for a stupid statement is easier than defending one.
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.