Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
In a dramatic -- and strikingly well-organized -- escalation of the terror war against Israel, a string of attacks took place today about twelve miles away from the southern resort town of Eilat, near the Egyptian border. The New York Times describes this as "the most serious assault on Israeli territory in more than two years" and notes that this is the deadliest day for Israel since Netanyahu took office two and a half years ago.
The terrorists infiltrated Israel through the Sinai border. They managed to get in with guns, explosives, mortars and rocket-powered grenades, which they used in a coordinated attack spread over a period of seven hours. Seven Israelis are reported dead so far: six civilians and one soldier.
The timeline runs as follows:
- At noon, terrorists in a car opened fire on a public bus, Egged #392, traveling from Be'er Sheva to Eilat. Seven were injured. The terrorists were presumably aware that as today is Thursday, the bus could be assumed to contain many soldiers. (In Israel, soldiers often travel home from base on Thursdays for the weekend.)
- When soldiers rushed to the scene to assist, multiple explosive devices were detonated near them.
- Five minutes after those explosions took place, mortar shells were fired from Egypt into Israel; no injuries were reported.
- Israeli security, meanwhile, set up barricades and located the car from which the initial drive-by shooting took place. A gunfight ensued in which two to four of the terrorists were killed.
- At 1:10 pm, an anti-tank missile was fired at a private Israeli vehicle, injuring seven.
- Minutes later, another anti-tank missile was fired at another private vehicle, killing six.
- At 6:00 pm, Israeli aircraft hit Gaza. At least six Palestinians were killed, reportedly including a senior "resistance" figure.
- At 7:00 pm, while Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Benny Gantz were giving a press conference at the scene of the attacks, terrorists opened fire nearby, gravely injuring another two.
I'm afraid I'm too upset right now to offer any sober, dispassionate analysis, other than to say that off the top of my head I cannot recall any other series of attacks to rival this one in terms of coordination. This is not Hamas's standard modus operandi. They're getting help. They're also, judging by number 8 on the timeline, getting rather cocky.
Egypt is claiming that the terrorists didn't come from Egyptian territory, which is a rather bold assertion considering the state of near-total lawlessness that currently reigns in the Sinai Peninsula. (To wit: the five uncontested and unsolved recent terrorist attacks on the Egyptian natural gas pipeline that supplies Israel and Jordan.) Hamas, meanwhile, is accusing Israel of orchestrating today's attacks as a pretext for "aggression" against Gaza.
Hamas leaders in Gaza are reported to be in hiding.
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
I suppose Israel is not prepared for a full-scale Sinai campaign. It would make sense, however, to retake all of the Sinai to the Suez Canal and then sue Egypt again for peace, offering to return the Sinai only on the condition that the Egyptians keep it free of terror cells and that they permanently close the border with Gaza.
As for Gaza... it's clear that Gaza ruled by Hamas is simply a source of ongoing terror. Israel needs to arrest or otherwise incapacitate all of Hamas's leadership and dismantle all of its infrastructure in Gaza, not just "spank" them with a few surgical strikes with laser-guided munitions.
It might be the most propitious time in many years to act in the South, since Assad is distracted and Hezbollah has to deal with the Hariri indictments.
Dec '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Oh, and Ehud Barak ought to state that he takes Hamas's denials seriously, as they are cowardly weaklings who lack the nerve and basic skills to carry out such a coordinated attack. That might prod them to own up to their responsibility, out of machismo.
Apr '11
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
This must be more flowering of the "Arab Spring" that began in Egypt. : (
Aug '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Judith
Thanks for the obviously wrenchingly hard work. I wish Stuart were right. It is an opportune time for Israel to strike, but the world would yawn at the force with which it would be attacked. Syria is attacking Syria and Palestinian refugee camps,Hezbollah blusters as it protects its evil children, Iran is the grand puppeteer, pulling strings from Tehran to Baghdad to Damascus to Cairo. Punch and Judy have to go.
Fleurs du mal rise from the dirt after this Arab spring. Shame on America for allowing such latitude to killers. Shame for the late Syrian warning, Durban III, asking Israel to apologize for Mavi Mara.
Stay safe.Trust no one.
Jun '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
--Ps 91
Feb '11
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Judith Wrote: "I'm afraid I'm too upset right now to offer any sober, dispassionate analysis,"
Yours is the best I have read today. Thank you and stay safe.
Dec '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
So glad you are safe.
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Thank you, guys. Sometimes cool analysis seems quite beside the point, if not downright inappropriate. A kind word means so much more.
Etoile, those words from the Psalms are very comforting. Thank you for posting them.
Jul '11
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Oh goodness, how heart breaking.
One thing is for sure about the Israeli's, hit them in the mouth and they might just decapitate you. Let's see how this plays out. These new arab governments are not going to play sand box very nicely I'm afraid.
Edited on August 18, 2011 at 10:55pmDec '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
From the JPost:
Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday warned Israel against "any irresponsible action" in the Gaza Strip in response to terror attacks that killed seven Israelis and wounded dozens more in the South earlier in the day.
"Israel stands warned of any possible aggressive action or collective punishment measures against the Palestinian population in Gaza," Erekat said in a statement.
I have another suggestion for Israel: go into the West Bank, round up all of the leadership of Fatah, and offer them two alternatives: support whatever action Israel wants to take in Gaza to remove the threat of terror, or be delivered to Gaza City to have a "frank, face-to-face dialogue" with Hamas.
I can guarantee that Fatah fears Hamas far, far more than they either Israel or the appearance of acquiescence to Israeli defensive measures.
May '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
"Egypt is claiming that the terrorists didn't come from Egyptian territory"
Would this be the same Egypt that regular publishes Blood Libels in official government newspapers and TV shows?
Sep '10
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Explain to me again the land Israel is supposed to give back after it took it fighting wars it did not start.
Apr '11
Re: Terrorists Kill Seven, Injure 40 During Wave of Attacks in Israel
Oh Judith, I am so sorry.