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Conflict claims of responsibility and denial cast mystery on TA attack
By Israel Insider staff and partners February 26, 2005
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas angrily accused a "third party" of orchestrating a suicide bombing in Israel to sabotage the Mideast peace process, and his security officials claimed the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah was involved.
But in Beirut, Hezbollah denied the accusations, and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility from Lebanon, reversing earlier denials by its members in the territories. Israel also pointed to Islamic Jihad.
The conflicting accounts created a rare sense of mystery around Friday night's attack, which killed four Israelis outside a Tel Aviv nightclub and shattered a fragile truce between Israel and the Palestinians. In the past, terrori groups have been quick to praise their members for carrying out deadly bombings.
But this time, the main terror groups -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades -- have much at stake. If a Palestinian group is responsible, it could derail the informal cease-fire declared by Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon earlier this month and would put tremendous pressure on Abbas to crack down on the militants. If an outside group was involved, however, Israel is likely to give him more leeway.
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with top security officials Saturday night to plot a response. It appeared there would be no immediate Israeli retaliation and that Abbas would be given some time to act.
Abbas met with Cabinet ministers and security chiefs earlier Saturday to discuss a response. Abbas condemned the attack as "sabotage," reiterated his support for the truce, and said he was exchanging information with Israel, the United States and Europe.
"We believe there is a third party that wants to sabotage this process, and to harm our people and our national goals," Abbas said. "We will not hesitate to track them down and bring them to justice and punish them."
Palestinian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Abbas was referring to Hezbollah. Security officials have said the terror group, which gets its backing from Israel's arch enemies Iran and Syria, is the biggest threat to the cease-fire, with hundreds of gunmen from various Palestinian militant groups on its payroll.
Abbas said the major Palestinian terror groups -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades -- had all condemned the attack. The three groups said following the attack that they were committed to the truce.
Late Saturday, however, an official from Islamic Jihad's Syrian-based leadership claimed responsibility.
"Israel has not abided by the pacification period. This is the main reason that led to this operation," said Abu Tareq, a member of Islamic Jihad's political bureau. He did not elaborate.
A senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disputed the claim.
"Hezbollah is the one that armed the bomber and gave the orders to carry out the attack," he said. He accused Hezbollah of persuading Islamic Jihad to accept responsibility to deflect attention. Both groups receive funding from Iran.
Israeli officials cast doubt on the Palestinian claims. While acknowledging Hezbollah's ties to West Bank militants, Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir noted the attack also required local help. "It's not Hezbollah who carried out the attack, it's the Palestinians who did," he said.
Israeli security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said late Saturday that they had concluded that Islamic Jihad was involved -- with orders coming from Damascus.
The bomber was identified as Abdullah Badran, 21, a university student from a village near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. His parents said he was a devout Muslim, but had no history of militant activity.
In a preliminary move, Palestinian police arrested two suspects in connection with Friday night's attack. Palestinian security officials in Tulkarem said the two arrested men have ties to Islamic Jihad, and that more arrests were expected.
Palestinian security officials had said they were investigating whether Badran was recruited by local militants from Al Aqsa, which has ties to Abbas' ruling Fatah movement, at the behest of Hezbollah. Often, there is overlap and coordination between militant groups, particularly Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa.
Israeli forces also arrested two of the bomber's brothers and four neighbors in his home village, including the local mosque preacher. The alleged driver who transported the bomber was also arrested.
In contrast to the dozens of previous suicide bombings, there were no celebrations in the West Bank on Saturday, and none of the militant groups hung the customary posters of congratulations at the bomber's home. Many residents expressed anger, fearing the violence would jeopardize the recent calm.
"If Hezbollah was behind this attack, I as a Palestinian tell them, 'Deal with your own problems and stay out of ours,"' said Akram Abu Sbaa, 38, a resident of the West Bank town of Jenin.
The attack drew condemnations from the European Union, Britain, Germany, Japan and Russia. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and said it is essential that Palestinian leaders take "immediate, credible steps" to find those responsible.
Israel and the United States said Abbas has to act quickly and forcefully -- despite his long-standing reluctance to confront militants -- if he wants to rescue a fragile Mideast truce.
"We believe his rhetoric," said Meir, the Israeli official. "But at the same time, regarding practical actions against terrorism, nothing has been done."
The suicide bombing shattered a two-week period of relative calm. Since the cease-fire declaration, the two sides have stepped up security cooperation, and Israel has pledged to hand over security responsibilities in most of the West Bank to Palestinian forces.
The radical Palestinian factions are expected to hold talks with Egyptian officials next week on the cease-fire with Israel, a senior Hamas official said on condition of anonymity.
But following the bombing, Israel is likely to push Abbas to take harsher action against the terrorists.
The Ap contributed to this report.
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