Special Update: Israel's War Against Terrorism
July 23, 2002

 

• For the past 20 months, Israel has been engaged in a relentless war against Palestinian terror - a war imposed on it following Palestinian rejections at the Camp David summit. Up until today the conflict has cost the lives of numerous people: 573 Israelis were killed and 4235 injured. Israelis have been targeted by vicious terrorists for the mere fact of being Israelis.
  
  
• In its fight against terrorism, Israel has been enforcing one basic and constant policy: the complete uprooting of terror infrastructure. There shall be no pause or break in this campaign. To that effect, the IDF has invariably targeted terrorists themselves, captured thousands of weapons, destroyed dozens of bomb laboratories and gathered intelligence that has permitted to preempt multiple attacks. In this effort, Israel is especially careful not to harm innocent Palestinians.
  
  
• Israel makes no compromise in its struggle to quell violence. In this regard, Israel deeply regrets any harm that befell innocent people during the last operation in Gaza. Palestinian terrorists have been using civilians - including children - as human shields, and their homes as places of refuge. Israel has made every effort to avoid innocent casualties.
  
  
• In a significant strike against the Palestinian terror infrastructure early Tuesday, Israeli Air Force jets bombed a building in Gaza City killing Hamas military commander and terror mastermind Saleh Shehadeh. Shehadeh was the leader and founder of Hamas' military wing of Izzadine al-Qassem in Gaza - the group has carried out the largest number of homicide attacks, including some of the deadliest in the past two years. Shehadeh was not a political leader or a simple militant as some want to portray him. He was a man responsible for the killing of many.
  
  
• Shehadeh was the operating commander of the most senior Hamas members. Hamas leaders in the West Bank were also reporting to him. Shehadeh recruited and commanded the top Hamas militants, drafted the group's attack policies, directly selected and dispatched bombers, introduced mortar missiles to Hamas' terror campaign and determined which Israeli communities to target. Shehadeh was the most wanted man by the IDF in the past last two years, and has been described as the most brutal and vicious terrorist operating in the Gaza Strip.
  
  
• Over the past two years, Israel had appealed dozens of times to the Palestinian Authority to limit Shehadeh's activity, but no action was taken. Instead, the PA, after keeping him in prison for a while, allowed Shehadeh to extend his operations.
  
  
• Israel was left with no alternative. Its pursuit to uproot terrorism is unwavering. There is no respite in that effort as the country aims to protect life and provide security to its people. If the Palestinian leadership had carried out its commitments to fight terrorism, today's operation would not have been necessary.
  
  
• An atmosphere conducive to a renewed dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians has been developing for the past few weeks. Israel contributed to it in implementing a series of measures aiming at easing restrictions imposed on the population. While paving the way for a return to the negotiating table with a reliable and trustworthy Palestinian partner, Israel will continue its unyielding battle against terror. The Palestinians should be Israel's partners in fighting terrorism and creating a better future for the region.