Car Bomb Explodes Near Green Line Checkpoint - IDF Raids Terror Infrastructure in Gaza
A booby-trapped car exploded this afternoon at the Baka al-Sharkiyeh checkpoint, near the Green Line border with the West Bank, HA'ARETZ reported. The Palestinian driver of the car was killed in the blast, but no Israeli security forces stationed in the vicinity were wounded. Defense officials believe that the Tanzim is responsible for the aborted attack. The checkpoint is located some 100 meters from where the West Bank counter-terrorism fence currently under construction.
In other news, large numbers of Israel Defense Forces troops entered the Gaza Strip in a two-pronged counter-terror operation this morning. The IDF took up positions in two areas of the Strip, close to Khan Yunis in the south, and near Beit Hanun and the Jabalya refugee camp in the north. Infantry and armored forces, backed up by cover fire provided by Israel Air Force helicopter, poured into the region overnight, advancing to their deepest position in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the operation, two rockets were fired from Gaza at around noon today, landing in a community in the Western Negev. Earlier in the day, three Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev, hitting an open field. There were no injuries in either incident.
Beslan Siege Victims to Be Flown to Israel for Treatment
Child survivors of last week's terror attack on a Russian school are to be airlifted to Israel for treatment at facilities specializing in such care, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The children and their mothers will be flown to Israel by the Michael Cherney Fund, which was created after the Dolphinarium suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv, which killed 20 teenagers and wounded over 100 in 2001. The Fund also helped the victims of a May 2002 bombing in south Russia, where 10 children were killed and many more wounded.
Terrorists seized the Beslan school on September 1st, a day after a suicide bombing in Moscow killed 10 people and just over a week after two Russian passenger planes exploded killing all 90 people aboard - two attacks authorities suspect were linked to the war in Chechnya.
The official death toll of the three-day siege, which ended in deadly explosions and gunfire, stood at 335 - 156 of whom children - plus 30 attackers.
Ariel, Ma'ale Edumim and Gush Etzion to Remain Inside Security Fence
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced this afternoon that the cities of Ariel and Ma'ale Edumim, and the large Jewish towns bloc of Gush Etzion were to remain within the security fence's route, MA'ARIV reported. In a meeting held with top defense officials including Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, the prime minister said he wanted the above three areas to remain in Israeli territory. Sharon agreed to changes in the fence's route south of Hebron. The new route will be moved closer to the Green Line, while the settlements that remains outside the fence's limits - Carmel, Maon and Susia - will receive additional security measures. The prime minister noted that the new fence route would to be brought before the Cabinet for approval soon, after all relevant preparations were completed.
Other News in Brief
* Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei renewed his threat to resign just six weeks after retracting his previous resignation, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL reported. Qurei allegedly accused Yasser Arafat of going behind his back on Tuesday over whether Palestinians would participate in a meeting with foreign donors and Israeli officials in New York later in September.
* Israel's national soccer team will play its first international competitive match in three years at the Ramat Gan stadium this evening, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL reported. Israel is hosting Cyprus for the second of its 2006 World Cup qualifying matches. On Saturday, the Israeli team played against France in Paris and drew 0-0.
Economic & High-Tech News
* Vishay International is building a new research and development center in Israel, which will be one of the company's leading centers in the world, HA'ARETZ reported. Vishay International is one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers and a Fortune 1,000 company. "Vishay's vision is to build an R&D center in Israel that will be based on engineering know-how, innovativeness and ability in development and design, for which Israel is known throughout the world," said Marc Zandman, president and chairman of Vishay Israel. In choosing Israel as one of its leading R&D centers, along with the site of production plants, Vishay joins a list of international companies, such as Intel and Motorola. Vishay International already operates six production plants in Israel, manufacturing electronic components, conductors, resistors and capacitors.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Victor Chemtob at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]