Israel expects more Fatah suicide attacks
An offshoot of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party has carried out its first suicide bombing against Israel since a February 2005 truce.
Israeli security officials say they’re expecting Fatah militants to step up such attacks now that the rival Hamas group has taken power.
With Israel’s acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert having announced his plan to pull out of much of the West Bank, and the long-ruling Fatah now out of power, militants affiliated with the group could have an interest in creating the impression on the Arab street that Israel is retreating under fire.
Hamas militants, then outside the government, did the same ahead of Israel’s evacuation of the Gaza Strip over the summer.
Alternatively, security officials said, some members of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, which carried out the latest attack, might want to turn up the heat on Hamas, which ousted Fatah in Palestinian parliamentary elections, and is already at odds with the West for refusing to renounce its violent campaign against Israel.
Yesterday evening, an Al Aqsa suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew hitched a ride in a car driving into the West Bank settlement of Kedumim.
He blew himself up at a fuel station at the entrance to the settlement, killing himself and the four Israelis in the car – the first time militants have entered a private car to blow it up.
The attack took place a day after Hamas’ Cabinet took office. Since the truce was declared 14 months ago, Al Aqsa had launched home-made rockets at Israel that have caused no fatalities, but had suspended suicide bombings.
Abbas was in South Africa with his staff, and not immediately available for comment. Other Fatah officials referred questions to Hamas.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "It is our people’s right to resist occupation. Israel is responsible for such attacks because of its daily aggression against our people.”
David Baker, an official in Olmert’s office, said the attack “took place while the Palestinians refused to lift a finger to prevent terror attacks against Israelis, and we saw the results”.
Olmert has promised tough action against militants, but there was no immediate Israeli military response to the suicide attack.
Separately, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday ordered the military to step up its targeted killings of Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, after the group fired a more sophisticated type of rocket capable of hitting a large Israeli city and sensitive installations, security officials said.
Early today, in response to rocket attacks, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at an empty Hamas training camp in northern Gaza, at targets near Gaza City, and at the main soccer stadium, which was empty. No casualties were reported.
The escalation of violence overlapped the victory of Olmert’s Kadima Party in parliamentary elections earlier this week, on a platform of dismantling small, isolated settlements across the West Bank while holding on to blocs where most Jewish settlers live.
Olmert says he is prepared to negotiate the borders, but if necessary, would take unilateral action. With Hamas holding fast to its violent ideology, prospects for talks look bleak.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted that the US might support unilateral Israeli action, even though it is the main backer of the so-called “road map” peace plan.
“I wouldn’t on the face of it just say absolutely we don’t think there’s any value in what the Israelis are talking about,” Rice said.
“If you’re going to have a negotiation though, you have to have partners,” she said. “And the Palestinian government that has just been sworn in does not accept the concept of a negotiated solution.”
Official results released yesterday gave Kadima and the left-leaning Meretz each an additional seat, handing Olmert and like-minded potential partners a majority in parliament to shepherd the pullback through. The final tally, which included soldiers’ votes not counted immediately after the election, gave Kadima 29 of parliament’s seats, Labour 20, Meretz 5 and the pensioners’ party 7.
Although Olmert wasn’t expected to have trouble putting together a coalition based on the initial count, he might have had to cede ground to parties that want to join the government but don’t back his pullout plan.
The new Palestinian ministers moved into their offices yesterday and were immediately confronted with a growing financial crisis, as Western donors threatened to cut off vital aid if Hamas didn’t recognise Israel and seek peace talks.
Hamas leaders said the aid cuts violate the Palestinians’ democratic rights, but Rice declared, “The principle is very clear: We’re not going to fund a Hamas-led government.”
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