(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)
Jerusalem, 1 August 2002
The UN Secretary General's Report on Jenin, released today, came
about as the result of false Palestinian propaganda regarding an
alleged 'massacre' in the Jenin Refugee camp during the course of
Israel's Defensive Shield counter-terrorist operation of April, 2002.
The report overwhelmingly negates this Palestinian fabrication and
repudiates the malicious lies spread regarding the issue. The report
specifically refutes the claim made by a senior Palestinian Authority
official alleging the massacre of 500 civilians, indicating that
there were no more than 52 Palestinian fatalities in Jenin, most of
them apparently armed individuals.
In addition, the report clearly establishes that the Palestinian
Authority did nothing to prevent terrorism and had failed to fulfill
its responsibility and commitment to confront terrorism, noting that
this failure was due to the PA's assumption that terrorism would
force Israeli acquiescence.
The report also confirms that Israel's counter-terrorist operations
came in reaction to a grim wave of suicide terrorism, specifically
stressing the murderous attack on Passover night in the Park Hotel in
Netanya. Furthermore, the report points out that the terrorist
organizations purposely situated themselves in the heart of a
Palestinian civilian population, while setting booby-traps in
civilian residences.
It is appalling that the Palestinian terrorism, which had forced
Israel to undertake Operation Defensive Shield in April, has struck
again on the same day of this report's publication.
Israel has taken note of the report's comments regarding delays in
the movement of humanitarian agencies in the area. Israel recognizes
the importance of the activities of these agencies and will continue
to assist them in their humanitarian efforts. However, Israel rejects
the accusations made regarding its actions during the course of
Operation Defensive Shield, which derived from its right to
self-defense in the face of terrorist attack.
Israel remains resolute in its desire to achieve peace, and will
spare no effort in order to attain this fundamental goal.