Jenin-s Terrorist Infrastructure - 4-Apr-2002

Jenin's Terrorist Infrastructure
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)

Since the outbreak of the current round of Palestinian violence against Israel, the city of Jenin has developed a large and varied terrorist infrastructure, one that serves as a principal center for the terrorist organizations operating in Judea and Samaria.

Due to the proximity of Jenin to Israeli population centers, the city has served as a launching site for numerous terrorist attacks against both Israeli civilians and Israeli towns and villages in the area. Today, there are numerous terrorist organizations based in Jenin, some of the largest operating in all of Judea and Samaria.

The Fatah (Al-Aqsa Brigades)

The Fatah movement (and especially its military wing, the "Al-Aqsa Brigades," under the leadership of Abbed El Karim Awiss), is very active in the Jenin sector. Fatah has carried out numerous shooting and bombing attacks, especially against villages in the area (Ganim, Kadim, Homesh, etc.). In addition, Fatah operatives have attacked a large number of Israeli civilian targets, such as the attack on Kibbutz Meirav, where a young women was murdered, and the October 4 shooting attack at the Afula Central Bus Station, in which 3 civilians were killed.

Islamic Jihad

Jenin is the main center of operations of the Islamic Jihad organization for all of Judea and Samaria. The organization's leadership (Mahmoud Nouris and Ali Safouri) has exploited the proximity of Jenin to carry out mass murder attacks against Israeli population centers, such as the 27 November shooting attack at the Afula Central Bus Station, in which 2 civilians were killed and 31 wounded, as well as a 29 November suicide bombing attack near Hadera that killed 3 civilians and wounded 3, two of them severely.

Hamas

The Hamas' Jenin operations comprise an important component of the organization's terrorist activities in Samaria, one that has executed numerous attacks against Israeli civilian targets. Specifically, the Hamas movement is responsible for attacks against Haifa, Nahariya and even the 9 August bombing of Jerusalem's Sbarro restaurant, where 15 people were murdered and over 140 injured.

Major Attacks Carried out by the Terrorist Infrastructure in Jenin

Hamas

1. 9 September 2001 - A suicide attack in Nahariya, 3 Israelis killed and 48 wounded, the attacker was an Israeli Arab from the Galilee.
2. 19 March 2002 - A shooting attack in Hamam Al Maliach (Jordan Valley), an IDF officer was killed and 3 Israelis were wounded.
3. 31 March 2002 - Suicide attack in Haifa, leaving 15 Israeli civilians dead and 33 wounded. The attacker was from Jenin refugee camp, and had an Israeli ID card.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad

1. 16 July 2001 - A suicide attack at the Binyamina railway station killing 2 Israelis and wounding 10.
2. 28 October 2001 - A shooting attack in Hadera killing 4 Israelis and wounding 42.
3. 29 November 2001 - A suicide attack at a junction near an army base near Pardes Hanna killing 3 Israelis and wounding 9.
4. 25 January 2002 - A suicide attack at the old Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv leaving 23 wounded (in cooperation with Fatah).
5. 5 January 2002 - A suicide attack in Afula, killing one Israeli and wounding 15.
6. 20 March 2002 - A suicide attack in a bus in Wadi Ara, killing 7 Israelis and wounding 28.
7. 10 April 2002 - A suicide attack at the Yagur junction, killing 8 Israelis and wounding 20.

Fatah

1. 1 February 2001 - The murder of Lior Ataya.
2. 28 April 2001 - Shooting at a car near Umm al Fahm, killing one Israeli civilian and wounding another (female).
3. 28 June 2001 - Shooting at a vehicle near Ganim; one woman was killed.
4. 11 September 2001 - Shooting at "Bezek" workers near Shaked and detonation of a charge at an IDF force that was carrying out searches in the area. An Israeli civilian and 4 soldiers were wounded.
5. 9 March 2001 - Shooting at an Israeli vehicle near Yabed. An Israeli civilian woman was killed.
6. 4 October 2001 - A terrorist disguised as a soldier fired at Israeli civilians in the central bus station in Afula. 3 civilians were killed and 14 wounded.
7. 27 October 2001 - Infiltration to the settlement of Me Ammi and laying of a charge there. There were no casualties.
8. 27 November 2001 - A joint PIJ and Fatah suicide attack, in which terrorists fired at civilians in the Afula central bus station. 2 Israeli civilians were killed and 50 wounded.
9. 8 February 2002 - Masterminding of a joint PIJ and Fatah suicide attack aimed at Tel Aviv. The attack was prevented when the squad was intercepted in Jenin, when the terrorists detonated the explosive belt in their possession.
10. 12 March 2002 - Shooting at an Israeli vehicle on the road to the village of Katsir; one Israeli was severely wounded and 2 lightly wounded.
11. 21 March 2002 - A suicide attack in a Jerusalem cafe, killing 3 Israeli civilians and wounding 71.
12. 30 March 2002 - A suicide attack in a Tel Aviv cafe, killing one Israeli civilian and wounding 45.

Activities of the Palestinian Authority

At no time during the course of the current round ongoing Palestinian attacks against Israel (beginning in September 2000), did the Palestinian Authority take a single step to prevent these attacks from taking place.

However, following the 27 November attack on Afula and the 16 December "cease-fire," Fatah operatives did arrest some members of the Islamic Jihad movement (Mahmoud Nouriss and Toalba Wali).