Israeli helicopters attacked a factory in the Gaza Strip early Friday, less than 24 hours after Palestinian fighters blew up an Israeli tank, killed two soldiers and tried to plant a huge car bomb in Israel.
The Palestinians launched their assaults Thursday despite heightened Israeli security before the Jewish New Year. The Palestinians called the attacks retaliation for killings of civilians.
Israel hit back early Friday with a helicopter missile strike at a metal workshop in the Gaza Strip’s city of Khan Younis, witnesses said. Hospital officials said there were no casualties. The Israeli military said the target was a weapons factory, adding it was targeted "because it was used by a terror organization to make ammunition."
The owner, Abu Khalil, denied the allegation, telling Reuters his workers built parts for electric generators. "Why did they hit my foundry? I did nothing wrong," he said.
Witnesses said helicopters fired three missiles at the small factory, caving in the roof. The building was empty of workers at the time.
The Israeli army also blocked two main junctions in the Gaza Strip to Palestinian traffic, effectively dividing the area into three separate zones.
Earlier, Palestinian activists killed two Palestinians they suspected of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, linked to Fatah, claimed responsibility.
In the West Bank city of Jenin, two armed Palestinian were found shot to death in the street in the early morning.
Palestinian witnesses said Israeli soldiers had raided their hideout and shot Kamal Silawi of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Samir Qandil, an officer in the PA preventive security forces.
Also on Friday, Israeli troops arrested a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in the village of Zbabdeh near Jenin together with four other activists, Israeli Radio reported. It added that Jamal Hindi, a well-known PFLP leader in Jenin area was arrested in one of the houses in the village following a raid by a special Israeli army unit at predawn.
On Thursday night, Israeli security forces erected roadblocks throughout the seam area between Israel and the West Bank, after highly specific intelligence information regarding a suicide bomber infiltration into Israel. The roadblocks were set up on all major roads near Taibeh, Kochav Ya'ir and Tzur Natan. In addition, the police presence in the area was beefed up.
Shortly before midnight, security sources said that the number of specific alerts had fallen, but that they would remain on high alert and the roadblocks would stay in place until Friday morning at the earliest.
On Thursday, an Israeli border patrol unit chased two cars near the city of Hadera, some 50 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, and found one rigged with explosives. Bomb disposal teams carried out a controlled blast.
"This is the Palestinian terrorists' way of sending Israelis Rosh Hashana New Year's greetings," said David Baker, an official in Sharon's office. "A massive terrorist attack against innocent Israelis has been prevented." Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) begins at sundown on Friday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
