Israeli intelligence sources said Wednesday’s bus attack at the Meggido junction, which killed 17 Israelis, was the first of a series of Hizbullah-inspired attacks in northern Israel. According to World Tribune.com, an American Internet newspaper, the Israeli sources added Hizbullah, with Iran's backing, has recruited agents among Israeli Arabs in the area.
The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bus attack. The group told Hizbullah's Al Manar television station that the assailant was from the area of Jenin in the West Bank. The bomber was later identified by the group as Ramzi Samudi, 18, an Islamic Jihad activist from Jenin.
According to Israeli police investigation, the car used by Samudi was a Renault van stolen in February in Lod. The van carried a license plate belonging to a different stolen car. Police said that the suicide bomber crossed over to Israel from the West Bank early Wednesday morning. Security sources said the explosive device was prepared in Jenin.
One day before the bombing attack, Israel's military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, said Hizbullah was planning to launch what he termed a "unique" attack along Lebanon's northern border with Israel. Zeevi-Farkash said the Hizbullah strike would take place over the next few days, Israel Radio reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon discussed Wednesday the situation in the northern border with senior Cabinet ministers. Israeli officials have warned of a harsh military response to any Hizbullah attack.
According to Haaretz, Sharon said that Israel has no interest in opening a second front in the north even though it has reasons to act. Senior Israeli officers expressed a similar line at the meeting. "However", the prime minister warned, "the situation could change," Sharon was quoted by the daily.
Sharon, however, said that nobody should think that Israel was incapable of taking action. Security sources presented the ministers with possible scenarios that might lead to a deterioration of the situation along the border with Lebanon. One of the scenarios presented to the cabinet was the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.
In his comments, Ze'evi also said that Hizbullah had placed some 10,000 Katyusha and rocket launchers in South Lebanon over the past two years since Israel's withdrawal. The rockets are capable of reaching as far as Haifa. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
