A Palestinian gunman infiltrated into the Israeli settlement Elon Moreh on Thursday night, killing four Israelis and fighting a prolonged gun battle with Israeli troops until he was killed. Hamas has claimed responsibility. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has declared readiness for an unconditional ceasefire as Palestinians brace for a violent Israeli reaction.
“Elon Moreh”, one of the oldest Israeli settlements in the West Bank, is located west of the Palestinian city Nablus. The gunman apparently entered the settlement by cutting through its perimeter fence. Shortly before 9:00PM he charged a house in the center of the settlement, shooting four Israelis, all members of the same family who live in the building.
The gunman then took command of the ground level of the two-story building, and engaged in a gunfight with Israeli troops that surrounded him, while holding other occupants of the house trapped inside. After hours of gunfire, Israeli troops broke into the house and the Palestinian gunman was killed.
Hamas Claims Responsibility
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. The statement named the attacking gunman as Ahmed Abd Al Jawad. Hamas was also responsible for Wednesday’s attack in Netanya, and has promised a wave of attacks over the next days.
Second Attack Nearby
Several hours after the incident, a second attack took place in the vicinity of Elon Moreh. Around 4:00AM local time, a Palestinian attacker opened fire at Israeli troops on a hillside close to the Jewish settlement. After a short gun battle, the attacker escaped from the scene.
Arafat Calls for Ceasefire
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared on Thursday his readiness for an unconditional ceasefire, in a move apparently motivated by intense American pressure and by a desire to forestall the expected Israeli military reaction. Talking to journalists who gathered at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Arafat said the Palestinians had informed U.S. envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni of “our readiness to implement an immediate ceasefire”.
Arafat also warned that Israel was about to embark on massive new attacks on the Palestinians, and told Reuters: “Unfortunately, there are some aggressive preparations by the Israelis to do a wide military operation against our civilians, our cities and our refugee camps.”
The attack at Elon Moreh comes just one day after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed twenty Israelis and wounded over one hundred in an attack in the coast city of Netanya. The Israeli government held a general meeting Thursday night to decide on a reaction to Wednesday’s attack. Palestinians are bracing for what could be the most severe Israeli reprisals yet in the 18 month long Intifadah. (www.albawaba.com)
