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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (1425)	1/9/2002 7:54:34 AM
From: Haim R. Branisteanu	Respond to of 32591

(12:05) Four soldiers killed in gunfight with terrorists By The Jerusalem Post Internet Staff An IDF officer and three soldiers were killed in a firefight when Palestinian terrorists attacked an IDF position near the Gaza Strip early this morning. The four are: Maj. Ashraf Hoiash Mazarib, 28, from Beit Zarzir Sgt.-Maj. Ibrahim Hamadieh, 23, from Reihaneih St.-Sgt. Mofeid Sawayed, 25, from Abu Snan The name of the fourth soldier has not been released. The four were Beduins from a desert patrol unit stationed in the vicinity. Two other soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in the attack. The families of the fallen soldiers have been informed. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. One of the soldiers sustained serious gunshot wounds and is being operated on at this hour. The second soldier was treated for shock and was later released and sent home. To hear a JPost Radio report on the attack, click here. Hamas's Izzadin Kassam military wing took responsibility for the attack, Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al said at a press conference in Beirut this morning. Two armed Palestinian terrorists infiltrated into Israel from the southern Gaza Strip in the attack at 04:30 this morning. Mohammed Abdel Jamus, 23, belonged to the Palestinian Authority's naval force, and the second, Imad Abu Razek, 25, was a Hamas operative. The terrorists, carrying explosive belts, assault rifles, grenades, and dressed in PA police uniforms, attacked the "Africa" IDF outpost at the northwest corner of the community of Kerem Shalom, some 150 meters from the Gaza Strip security fence, OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog told reporters at a briefing held earlier this morning. The two, residents of the Dahaniya area in the southern Gaza Strip, were reported missing as of last night, Hizbullah's Lebanon-based Al Manar television said. They successfully infiltrated the embanked-earth position at the northwest corner of the community, hurling several fragmentation grenades during a fierce gunfight with troops at short range. Troops shot dead one of the Palestinians. The second was killed after a brief chase. Sappers defused several unexploded grenades at the scene of the battle. A high alert was placed on kibbutzim adjacent to the Gaza Strip: Nir Yitzhak, Sufa, and Holit, during the operation. The security cabinet is in emergency session at this hour. Army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz briefed the cabinet on the outcome of the attack. Cabinet members are discussing Israel's future strategic stance vis-a-vis the PA, with sources at the meeting saying the attacks would likely have grave repercussions on relations with the PA. "It is clear beyond any doubt that the seven days of quiet have not taken place," sources at the Prime Minister's Office told Army Radio. 'This morning's events prove beyond all doubt that [PA Chairman Yasser] Arafat is doing nothing to dismantle the terrorists' base," the sources said. The PA police issued a statement denying their forces carried out the attack. PA sources said they were preparing for possible IDF retaliation in the southern Gaza Strip near Rafah, and were evacuating offices and installations. Arafat was reportedly furious over the attack, saying it ruined the chances of reaching seven days of quiet - an unwavering Israeli demand before negotiations could continue. (Margot Dudkevitch and Arieh O'Sullivan contributed to this report)