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Shin Bet: Number of terror attacks on Israel swelled in 2008 By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Shin Bet  Despite six months of relative quiet near the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, the overall number of terrorist attacks inside Israel rose last year, according to data from the Shin Bet Security Services annual summary. In addition, the number of people who died in attacks has risen significantly. The data shows that 36 Israelis were killed by terrorist attacks in 2008, including the firing of rockets into Israel from Gaza, compared to 13 killed in 2007. More than a third of terrorist related casualties last year took place in Jerusalem. Eight of those were from the shooting at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva on March 6. Both last year and the year before that saw one suicide bombing each. On February 4, 2008, one Israeli was killed and 28 were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in Dimona. On January 29, 2007, a terrorist detonated an explosives filled bag in an Eilat bakery, killing three. Advertisement Most attacks were defined by the Shin Bet as "popular acts," perpetrated by lone assailants, who hurled Molotov cocktails, stabbed or assaulted people out of nationalistic motives. Most perpetrators of such acts were unaffiliated with terrorist groups, according to the Shin Bet. East Jerusalemite terrorists increased their impact in 2008 compared to previous years. Arabs from East Jerusalem were responsible for three vehicular attacks - two of with a tractor - and a number of shooting attacks. In a number of cases in which Arabs from East Jerusalem committed acts of terror, Shin Bet found that the perpetrators had formed independent and local rings, acting without outside guidance from large groups. The Shin Bet explained that East Jerusalem terrorist are exploiting their familiarity with the city, as well as their legal status and ability to move across it, to mount attacks against Israelis. The number of rockets and mortar shells that Palestinians launched into towns around Gaza reached 1,800. During the month of August, Israel saw at least 182 mortar rounds fired on its towns from Gaza. Additionally, the Shin Bet noticed a significant improvement in the ability of Islamist activists to introduce their ideology into the Palestinian Authority and Israel. This, according to the service, is reflected in the number of indictments filed against people described by the Shin Bet as Al-Qaida operatives or global Jihad activists. Some, according to the data, were in the final stages of carrying out an attack before they were stopped. The Shin Bet named an alleged plan by East Jerusalem residents to shoot down a helicopter carrying U.S. President George W. Bush during his visits to Israel last year as an example. Related articles: 8 die in terror attack on J'lem yeshiva 17 hurt as terrorist plows car into Jerusalem crowd Three dead, dozens hurt in Jerusalem terror attack Bookmark to del.icio.us   Crisis in question The Arab League slams Livni's remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' Acts of Terror In their waning days in power, Bush and Rice work to try organize a truce.   1.   Pals like to call slaughter of unarmed civillians "resistance" 10:33  |  PETER SM 02/01/09

Read & React Bush: Hamas attacks on Israel are an 'act of terror' Responses: 71 Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: Now IDF is getting personal with Hamas Responses: 76 Yossi Sarid: If you (or I) were Palestinian Responses: 128 Anshel Pfeffer: Right and Left, Diaspora Jews more critical of Israel than ever Responses: 80 Bradley Burston: To win in Gaza, Israel only has to survive Responses: 50 More Headlines 01:36 Israel launches a ground operation in the Gaza Strip 01:36 WATCH: Israeli troops launch ground incursion in Gaza Strip 22:23 Barak: Gaza invasion won't be short, and it won't be easy 22:39 Hamas: Gaza will become graveyard for Israeli troops 00:03 Israel okays call-up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists 00:27 Hezbollah urges Hamas to 'kill as many Israeli soldiers as they can' during Gaza op 22:41 EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza 'defensive not offensive' 00:53 Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive 00:56 Thousands rally in Tel Aviv for and against Israel's Gaza op 01:17 UN Security Council to hold emergency session on Israel's Gaza operation 20:14 Netivot home collapses as Hamas intensifies rocket fire from Gaza 13:32 ANALYSIS / Are air strikes enough, or is a ground op needed in Gaza? 17:47 Arab League slams Livni remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' 14:04 Bush calls Hamas attacks 'acts of terror', says working on truce 10:41 ANALYSIS / Israel must prepare to turn its military might from Gaza to Iran 09:42 UN chief wants international monitors for Gaza cease-fire 18:59 Gaza 2009 - To win, all Israel has to do is survive 18:45 Top Iran official holds talks with Syria on Gaza violence Previous Editions Select Day 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec

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