Briefing following Israeli cabinet meeting, communicated by the Israeli cabinetsecretary, August 10, 2001.
Following tonight’s Cabinet decision, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Police carried out a number of military and administrative activities whose purpose was to deter the terrorist elements and to push the Palestinian Authority into fulfilling its duty and acting to stop the violence. Israel has acted according to the basic rules of self-defense, and is not willing to see its hands tied in the face of the terrorist threats.
Israel demands that the Palestinian Authority fulfill its commitments to stop and prevent the terrorism. To Israel’s sorrow, the PA has not fulfilled this mission. Moreover, elements under the PA’s direct authority are involved in terrorist activities.
Israel had given the Palestinian Authority the names of the terrorists involved in the recent terrorist attacks, including the horrendous attack in Jerusalem. The PA took no action to stop the terrorists. Israel invoked its right to protect the well being of its citizens, and will continue to do so as long as the PA does not fulfill its duty.
It is clear now to all how vital the preventive interceptions are. This line of activity has saved the lives of many and if it had been successfully carried out yesterday,the terrible disaster in Jerusalem would have been prevented.
Israel expects the international community to clarify, more adamantly, to the PA that without an end to terrorism, violence and incitement, it will be impossible to implement the Mitchell plan nor will the renewal of the peace negotiations be possible. Israel will not negotiate under fire.
Israel is interested in seeing the Mitchell plan started up, however this step is possible only if the fight against terrorism will be successfully carried out, without any compromises.
Background on Terrorist Responsible for Jerusalem Bombing
Communicated by senior defense sources, August 10, 2001
The active involvement of the Palestinian Authority (the protection of those carrying out terrorist attacks) and its passive involvement (doing nothing to stop the terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks) must be emphasized. It should also be noted that Israel’s preventive operations are necessary under these circumstances in which “ticking bombs”, whose identity is known, are on their way to carrying out terrorist attacks and – as the Palestinian Authority chooses not to act – only a preventive operation can prevent massive casualties.
1. The headquarters of the Hamas organization in Samaria, located in Nablus, is responsible for today’s (9 August) attack in Jerusalem. That same headquarters is responsible for the attacks on the Dolphinarium nightclub (1 June) and the “HaSharon” shopping mall in Netanya (18 May), as well as a long list of additional lethal attacks.
2. This cell has operated for a long time, undisturbed, in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). It has prepared bombs, recruited and trained suicide bombers and dispatched them to locations in Israel.
3. This past month, as a result of Israel’s attempt to implement the Tenet document, detailed information – which included the names of senior members of this cell – was given to the Palestinian security forces. This information was accompanied by the request that specific terrorist attacks be prevented, as Israel’s security forces had information about the plans for these attacks.
4. On July 13, the Palestinian security forces were asked to arrest Abas Sayid from Tulkarem, who was in the process of dispatching a terrorist attack against Israel. The Palestinian Authority did nothing.
On July 29, the Palestinian security forces were asked to arrest Iman Halaveh from Nablus, in order to prevent another planned terrorist attack.
Yet again the PA did nothing.
Members of this cell who had been dispatched by these two terrorists carried out two attacks in Jerusalem: a car bomb which exploded in the underground parking garage of an eight-story residential building in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood and an explosive devise placed in a supermarket (29 July). By some miracle, neither attack caused serious casualties.
5. On July 31, Israeli security forces were left with no choice but to attack Jamal Mansour and Jamal Damoni, two of the leaders of this same headquarters in Nablus, in order to prevent their plan to send suicide bombers to attack Israeli targets.
6. On August 8, another member of this cell – Nihad Abu Kishak – was apprehended by Israel. Amongst his belongings was the will of an additional suicide bomber – Basset Uda from Tulkarem.
Kishak admitted his activities, conducted jointly with Amar Hadiri (also from Tulkarem) aimed at sending suicide bombers into the Sharon area. As a result, the Israeli security forces were compelled to act against Hadiri so as to prevent his activities. Information about Uda, the designated suicide bomber was given to the Palestinian security forces. Again, nothing was done.
7. On August 8, an additional suicide bomber was dispatched in a car bomb driven by Asraf Sayid. The car exploded close to Moshav Baka’ot, causing injury to an Israeli soldier.
8. At the same time, the cell planned another attack in Jerusalem. Information about Abdullah Barghouti, who was in Ramallah and was directly responsible for dispatching the suicide bomber was given on August 9 to the Palestinian security forces in an attempt to prevent the attack. Yet again nothing was done, and the result was the terrible terrorist attack against a pizzeria in the center of Jerusalem.
9. The Palestinian security forces’ pattern of behavior repeated itself with regards to the Islamic Jihad’s cell responsible for terrorist attacks against Israel.
10. On July 11, The Palestinian security forces were asked to arrest Mahmoud Norsi from the Jenin refugee camp, in order to prevent a terrorist attack he had planned. The Palestinian Authority did nothing and the result was the deadly attack near the Binyamina train station (July 16), in which two people were killed and eight injured.
11. This cell continued its activities and on July 22, attempted to carry out another terrorist attack in Haifa. A catastrophe was prevented thanks to Israeli security forces who managed to arrest Morad – Mahmoud Norsi’s brother – who was supposed to blow himself up in the Carmalit subway in Haifa.
Mahmoud Norsi was also responsible for a terrorist attack in Beit She’an (August 2), in which heavy casualties were prevented only by a miracle.
12. Mahmoud Norsi and fellow members of his terrorist cell are currently continuing their activities, undisturbed. They are responsible, at this very moment, for a planned terrorist attack in Israel to be carried out by a suicide bomber by the name of Hassin Abu Nassa from Jenin.
13. This document presents names, details and even information about planned attacks that are on their way to be carried out at this very moment. The Palestinian Authority received this information, and more, on time. That the PA did nothing can only lead to the conclusion that it is interested in allowing the terrorist attacks to be carried out. As far as can be ascertained, in a number of cases the terrorists were warned by the Palestinian Authority that their activities had been exposed and that they should go into hiding from Israel’s security forces.
