The Israeli defense establishment has been preparing for
large-scale terror attacks since the September 11 attacks on
New York and Washington, a top security source told
Ha'aretz. We must prepare to our utmost, but in the
end, im Hashem lo yishmor ir, shov shokad shomer, our
efforts are for naught if Hashem does not protect us.
The working assumption made by security forces is that a
network of activists affiliated with Osama bin Laden's
terrorist organization Qaeda already exists in Israel and the
territories. "We know that bin Laden has his eye on Israel,"
he said.
Security officials believe that many of the Qaeda activists
in Israel are Lebanese or Palestinian Shi'ites, but that some
also hold European passports.
A number of other Europeans who have been arrested in Israel
and suspected of terrorist activity, such as the British
citizen Gerard Schumann who was arrested over a year ago, may
also be connected to the Qaeda network.
After the September 11 attack, those in the Prime Minister's
Office responsible for the war on terror surveyed weak points
in Israel that may be vulnerable to a massive terrorist
attack. "The lesson to be learned from the attacks in America
is that the biggest problem a country faces is the use
terrorist organizations make of the country's own
infrastructure," said one official.
Security sources said that "the biggest change that occurred
after the attack in America was that all psychological
barriers were broken. If we once believed that terrorist
organizations would hesitate before trying to harm hundreds
or thousands, of civilians, we have been proven wrong," said
the sources.
Preparation for this different type of terror have included
changes in guidelines given to the antiaircraft division in
the IDF, shortening the time it takes to decide whether or
not to bring down an unidentified plane. The security forces
have also upgraded security at airports and seaports.
Most of Israel's most vulnerable sites are well-protected
from the land, but can be accessed more easily by air.
Therefore, security at Israel's small local airports has been
increased in order to prevent terrorists from potentially
taking over planes.
Since the outbreak of the intifadah, the insurance company
Lloyd's defined Israel as a country with a very high risk
level, thereby raising the premiums for ships docking in the
country's ports.
However, a month ago, the company's representatives came to
Israel and found that security measures at the ports were
"two levels higher" than those accepted in other ports
worldwide. The company therefore lowered Israel's risk level
and the premiums for ships.
Terrorists are increasing their bestial efforts to kill and
maim as many Jews as possible. Within the space of two hours
on Monday evening, two soldiers, a policeman, and a civilian
were killed and four others wounded in terrorist attacks.
One was at the entrance to Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip and
another on Route 1 between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim.
The terrorists in both incidents were killed. Fatah's Aksa
Brigade claimed responsibility for both incidents.
PA Chairman Yasser Arafat made a victory sign in an
appearance before school children in Ramallah.
Elsewhere in the territories violence continued without
fatalities.
Israeli warplanes bombed Palestinian Authority security
installations in the early hours of Tuesday morning and
sliced the Gaza Strip into three sections in retaliation for
the killings on Monday.
A missile fired by an F-16 warplane destroyed the PA police
headquarters in the Al-Tira neighborhood of Ramallah. Jets
also destroyed the military intelligence building and the
Force 17 complex in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Rejecting pressure from the Right to dismantle the
Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said
Monday the PA will endure and he intends to meet with top PA
officials in the near future.
"I have no intention of dismantling the PA," Sharon told the
Likud Knesset faction. "But I do intend to deliver a strong
blow to the terrorist organizations, with the hope that one
day, there will be someone to talk to."
Sharon sharply criticized his critics on the Right,
especially former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, for
suggesting he dismantle the PA.
He denied reports the Americans asked him to limit IDF
responses to Palestinian attacks, because they could
complicate an imminent US attack on Iraq. He said the US
administration and even some countries in Europe understand
the need for Israel to do everything possible to defend its
citizens.
Sharon said the government's responses to terrorism have
evolved, both in ways known by the general public and ways
that cannot be revealed. He said there have been many
achievements on the security front, mainly regarding targeted
killings.
"The one policy that will not change is my decision to draw a
fine line between terrorists and the Palestinian population,"
Sharon said, outlining his "Palestinian Marshall Plan," which
he presented to US President George W. Bush during his recent
trip to Washington.
The plan calls for the US, Europe, and Arab countries to
contribute funds to create jobs for Palestinians, instead of
contributing directly to the PA, which he called an "empire
of corruption." Sharon accused the PA of stealing two-thirds
of the income of Palestinian laborers who work in Israel.
Sharon said the plan, which is in its final stages, would
create 100,000 jobs for Palestinians within territories under
their control over the next three years. He said Saudi Arabia
should be among the top contributors.
