Three Soldiers Killed as Terrorists Infiltrate IDF Post in Morag
One officer and two soldiers were killed, and one soldier was seriously wounded when Palestinian terrorists infiltrated an Israel Defense Forces post on the southern side of Morag, a community in the south Gaza Strip, early this morning, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The fallen soldiers have been identified as Capt. Tal Bardugo, 22, of Jerusalem, St.-Sgt. Israel Lutati, 20, of Neveh Dekalim and St.-Sgt. Nir Sami, 21, of Jerusalem.
The three Palestinian attackers were killed by IDF soldiers of the Givati Brigade. Three terror organizations claimed responsibility for the attack: Islamic Jihad, the Abu Rish Fatah faction and Gaza's Popular Resistance Committee.
The three terrorists apparently reached the Morag hothouses at night and hid there until dawn. At around 6:00 a.m., two of the terrorists infiltrated the post through its southern entrance before splitting up. One headed toward the position's situation room and killed two soldiers sitting inside the room. Hearing the shooting, the deputy company commander stepped out of his room and was killed as well. Officials said only a minute passed from the moment the terrorists entered the post until they were killed by the troops.
The third terrorist, who was hiding outside the post, planted two bombs in the hothouses area. He was killed in a gun battle several hours after the infiltration began. During the exchange of fire, a reporter was lightly wounded in the legs when he exited the post following a media briefing.
Two Policemen Killed in Jerusalem Bombing Prevented a Much Larger Attack
The two Border Policemen killed Wednesday while blocking the path of a female suicide bomber in Jerusalem may have saved dozens of lives, HA'ARETZ reported. Border Policemen Yonatan (Mamoya) Tahio, 20, of Rehovot, and Menashe (Meni) Komemi, 19, of Moshav Aminadav were to be laid to rest today.
Police said they had no doubt the suicide bomber intended to reach the hitchhiking and bus stops where about 30 people were waiting for rides. The bomber arrived near the French Hill junction hitchhiking post in northern Jerusalem wearing a brown veil and holding a bag containing the shrapnel-packed explosive device weighing between three and five kilograms.
Thirty Israelis were wounded in the Wednesday afternoon attack, when the bomber detonated her explosives. Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco said the Border Police had prevented a more serious outcome.
Early Thursday morning, Israel Defense Forces troops destroyed the house of bomber Zayneb Abu Salem, 18, in the Askar refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus
After the bombing, IDF troops entered the Nablus area and imposed a full closure on the city. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to strike the Palestinian terror infrastructure with "all force."
FM Shalom Urges UN to Tackle Iran Nuclear 'Nightmare'
Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said Wednesday that Iran would never abandon plans to develop nuclear weapons and that the issue should quickly be moved to the UN Security Council, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Shalom made the comments after meeting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shalom said, "They are trying to buy time, and the time has come to move the Iranian case to the Security Council in order to put an end to this nightmare."
Shalom pointed out that, "We know that the Europeans are trying now to engage with the Iranians, but we know that the Iranians will never abandon their plans to develop nuclear weapons. They're only trying to hide it."
According to a statement released by Shalom's office after the meeting, "Annan predicted that if the Iranians did not fulfill their obligations, the issue would be submitted to the Security Council in November."
Shalom is in New York participating in the UN's General Assembly meeting. He is scheduled to address the world body today, before returning to Israel.
Iran vowed Tuesday to continue with its nuclear program, even if it means ending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Child Development Center Inaugurated in Nazareth
The first center designed to help Israeli Arab children with disabilities and answer their special educational and medical needs was inaugurated at the St. Vincent French Hospital in Nazareth on Wednesday evening, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The Irwin Green Family Child Development Center is named after Jewish philanthropist and retired businessman, Irwin Green, 94, of Florida, who donated NIS 4 million for the project. Green, who has contributed to many projects throughout Israel, participated in the ceremony together with his son Don Green. He was awarded honorary citizenship of Nazareth by Mayor Ramez Jeraise. MK Rabbi Michael Melchior, founder of the Citizens Accord Forum that was instrumental in initiating the project, said it was the beginning of the realization of a dream of what could be achieved between the state, Arab citizens and the Jewish Diaspora. The center will provide special care and treatment for some 600 Arab and Jewish children from Nazareth and nearby Upper Nazareth. The treatment given will include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, communications clinics and psychological development.
Other News in Brief
* Paralympics world record holder Keren Leibowitz received her first gold medal at the Athens Paralympics after winning the 100-meter backstroke race Wednesday, MA'ARIV reported. She also won a silver medal after narrowly missing the gold in the 100-meter freestyle. On Tuesday, Itzhak Memistavlov won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle. Israeli sailing team Dror Cohen, Arnon Ephrati and Benny Kessler are in first place after finishing fourth in the seventh leg and first in the eighth leg of the nine-race competition. The final race is scheduled for today.
Economic & High-Tech News
* Trends Group, an Israeli business development company specializing in international market strategies, and Mid-Atlantic law firm WolfBlock are bringing a delegation of 30 Israeli technology companies to Philadelphia in November, GLOBES reported. The companies will participate in the WolfBlock / Trendlines Annual Venture Conference which is co-sponsored by Trendlines, WolfBlock, and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute. The Israeli companies will showcase their technologies in the areas of life sciences, homeland security, and information technology. The event will also include workshops and seminars on raising funds in the U.S. and strategies with venture capital companies.
* Africa-Israel is looking to buy a 7.5-acre lot on the Las Vegas Strip, where most of the major casinos and hotels are located, for $170 million, GLOBES reported. The lot is zoned for a commercial center, hotel and housing units. The cost of the project is expected to reach $800 million.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Victor Chemtob at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]