Hamas Claims Responsibility for Attack on Karmei Tzur Settlement While DFLP Says Its Men Carried Out the Assault on Yitzhar

09/06/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: Fire Breaks out in Kibutz||Palestinian Resistance Activists Arrested Near Khan Yunis||Qalandiya Checkpoint Closed After Security Alert||Hizbollah Resistance Men Again Fire at Israeli Planes in Southern Lebanon|| STORY: Palestinian Resistance groups have intensified their attacks on Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Palestinians see the settlers as part of an occupation army entrusted with the task of usurping Arab land. Building settlements in occupied territory in illegal under international law.

HAMAS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR KARMEI TZUR ATTACK

The Palestinian Resistance group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack early Saturday on a mobile home community at Karmei Tzur, a Jewish settlement on the West Bank where three settlers were killed.

One of the armed Palestinians, identified by Hamas as Ahmed Masalme, was also killed. A second Resistance man escaped to the nearby Palestinian village of Halhoul.

On Sunday, Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers entered Hammad's West Bank village, Asira al-Kabliya, and imposed a curfew on the residents, villagers said.

DFLP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR YITZHAR SHOOTING ATTACK

Meanwhile, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claimed responsibility for last night's shooting attack on the Jewish community Yitzhar in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported.

Four were wounded, two seriously, when a Palestinian Resistance man infiltrated the community.

The attack took place shortly before midnight.

Israeli occupation forces shot dead the attacker.

FIRE BREAKS OUT IN KIBBUTZ MA'ALE HAHAMISHA

At the same time, a fire broke out near Kibbutz Ma'ale Hahamisha, Israel Radio reported.

There were no reports of injuries.

There was also a fire at the Kibbutz Saturday. Investigators believe Saturday's flame may have been set deliberately.

PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE ACTIVISTS ARRESTED NEAR KHAN YUNIS

Nine Palestinian Resistance activists were meanwhile arrested during the night and brought to the Shin Bet, Israel's General Security Service.

According to Israeli media reports occupation soldiers in Gush Katif spotted the men near the town of Khan Yunis, under Palestinian control.

The men were turned over to the Shin Bet, with no reports of injury.

QALANDIYA CHECKPOINT CLOSED

In another development, the Israeli occupation army this morning, as warnings of Resistance attacks ensued, according to an Israel Radio report closed the Kalandia checkpoint (Read phot caption)

The Kalandia outpost is located south of Ramallah.

HIZBOLLAH AGAIN FIRES AT ISRAELI PLANES

Lebanon's Hizbullah Resistance group meanwhile opened fire at a plane in the northern region early Sunday.

Israeli Radio carrying the report added that no one was injured in the shooting attack.

Late last month in May, Hizbollah fighters fired at Israeli jets near the Israel-Lebanon border, showering fragments of anti-aircraft rounds on a northern Israeli village.

Lebanese security sources said Hizbollah fired at Israeli jets that carried out mock raids over south Lebanese towns and villages and circled low over the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.

The Israeli occupation army then said the planes were flying over Israel's northern Galilee when they came under Hizbollah anti-aircraft fire. The planes were not hit and the fragments landed on a town in the upper Galilee.

There were no reports of injury or damage.

Hizbollah waged a war of attrition that helped force Israel out of the south in May 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

It has attacked Israeli troops occupying the Shebaa Farms border area in the foothills of the Golan Heights since Israel's U.N.-certified withdrawal.

Hizbollah supports Palestinian Resistance and there were fears it may try to open a second front with Israel to ease the pressure on the Palestinian intifadha, uprising against Israeli occupation.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Israeli occupation soldier enforces a curfew in the West Bank town of Halhoul, near the Jewish settlement of Karmei Tsur after Palestinian Resistance men killed three Israelis Saturday, June 8, 2002. Palestinian Resistance men sprayed bullets through a cluster of mobile homes as the Jewish settlers inside were sleeping Saturday. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyouk