Islamic Jihad Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bomb Attempt

Voice of America, December 28, 2001

The Palestinian terrorist group Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for an attack in the Gaza Strip that Israel says was a suicide-bombing attempt.

Israel said the Palestinian killed in a shootout near a Jewish settlement Netzarim, was equipped with an anti-tank rocket, an assault rifle, and a belt of explosives. In a statement faxed to western news agencies, Islamic Jihad said the man killed was a member of one of its military groups.

The attack was believed to be the first since Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called earlier this month for an end to suicide attacks. Meanwhile, in what was called a seasonal gesture, the Israeli army Friday, lifted its blockade of the town of Bethlehem. Israel imposed blockades around a number of Palestinian towns this month following Palestinian suicide bombings that killed dozens of Israelis.

Israeli officials say they removed the blockade of Bethlehem to allow Christians to visit holy sites there more easily during the Christmas season. However, Israel says it will not allow Mr. Arafat to attend Orthodox Christmas observances in Bethlehem on January Sixth unless he arrests those responsible for killing Israel's tourism minister in October. Israel prevented Mr. Arafat from attending Christmas Eve services in Bethlehem on December 24, sparking a wave of international criticism. The Palestinian leader had attended both Western and Eastern Rite Christian services in Bethlehem since it came under Palestinian rule in 1995.

Israel's military has virtually stranded Mr. Arafat at his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah since early December as part of moves to pressure him to arrest Palestinian terrorists.

Israel says the blockade of Palestinian towns is a security measure to protect Israelis from bombing attacks. Palestinians call the closures collective punishment for the uprising against Israeli occupation.

More TruthNews