Jerusalem, June 15, 2003
Further details on April 30, 2003 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
The two British Muslims - Asif Hanif and Omar Khan Sharif - who were
involved in the April 30, 2003 suicide bombing at Mike's Place in Tel
Aviv were dispatched to perpetrate the attack by the Hamas military
command in the Gaza Strip.
The dispatching of foreign Muslims by Hamas to perpetrate attacks
against Israel constitutes a dramatic and strategic turning point
from Hamas' point of view.
Such a step means that Hamas is, in effect, ideologically toeing the
line with global jihad organizations, led by Al-Qaeda, which have
declared total war on whoever is not a Muslim and even against those
Muslims who cooperate with the West.
Despite this turning point, Hamas decided not to accept responsibility
for the Mike's place attack, apparently due to the possible
ramifications that this might have vis-?-vis its image, and because
this would reveal its true ideological face as an organization that is
not fighting for its freedom on its land (on "Islamic Waqf" lands, as
per its claims) but in order to achieve its dream of a United State of
Islam encompassing the entire world.
This aspiration naturally sees countries such as Israel, the USA and
the nations of Western Europe as enemies, but also sees the Arab
states, African countries and the Palestinian Authority as enemies
since these are seen both as "collaborators" with the West and its
culture, and as "endangering Islam," according to the fundamentalists.
The Israel Security Agency is now examining suspicions regarding
possible cooperation in the Mike's Place attack between Hamas and
Al-Qaeda. It should be pointed out that such ties have been exposed
in the past, including with Hamas in the Gaza Strip; however, until
the present, no direct operative cooperation in order to perpetrate
joint attacks has been revealed.
The ISA investigation is continuing.