Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 06, 2008 Shvat 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 16:07 05/02/2008 Defense Minister vows to end terror, rocket attacks on Israel By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Hebron, Dimona, Israel  Defense Minister Ehud Barak pledged Tuesday that the defense establishment would find a solution to curb "terror from Hebron and Qassams from Gaza," a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up in the southern city of Dimona. Speaking to Israel Defense Forces cadets at the Shizafon military base in the Negev, Barak hinted at the identities of the bombers, which are still being kept under official censorship. Hamas announced late Monday that members of its organization from the West Bank city of Hebron had carried out the attack, in which a woman was killed and dozens wounded. Advertisement Barak promised the cadets that the defense establishment would "find solutions as your parents found solutions in the past when they fought in the Jordan Valley." The defense minister added that the IDF was "an army that will win every test and every goal." Palestinian sources in Hebron identified one of the bombers as Mohammed al-Hirbawi, 20, who left his home at 4 A.M. on Monday and has not yet returned. The sources said that al-Hirbawi's brother and father were arrested by IDF forces on Monday afternoon. Al-Hirbawi, a known Hamas activist, had been jailed in Israel in the past and released. IDF troops on Monday also arrested members of the Zareer family in Hebron, whose son apparently was also involved in the attack. Al-Hirbawai's mother Basama told Haaretz on Tuesday that her son left for prayers early Monday morning and there has been no sign of him since. Basama said she had not noticed any recent unusual behavior in her son. When she heard about the terror attack and noticed that her son was still missing, she began to worry that something had happened to him. IDF troops arrived at the family's home on Monday afternoon and arrested Basama's husband and eldest son. The suspected bomber's mother said that as of now, no source has confirmed that her son in fact carried out the attack. She said she hoped that had made a mistake and that her son would return home soon. A number of militant organizations, including the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, claimed credit for the attack. A Fatah source said Monday that the "Army of Palestine" branch of Al-Aqsa had carried out the attack. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also claimed responsibility. The group's spokesman said the two suicide bombers were Luay Laghwani, 22, from the Sabra neighborhood in Gaza, and Musa Khalil Arafat, 24, from Abasan village near Khan Yunis. The spokesman emphasized that the two came from Gaza. Later a video recording of the two reading their wills was released in the names of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the PFLP. However, earlier in the day, different names had been released for the terrorists. Related articles: Day after Dimona bombing, Israel reverts to high security alert After Dimona attack, senior MK demands assassination of Hamas leaders Qassams hit 2 Sderot factories; IDF kills Hamas militants in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prayer change Pope Benedict XVI nixes a reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in a Catholic prayer. Blind and deaf in Jaffa 'The world's first professional deaf-blind theatre company' takes center stage in Jaffa.   1.   Homes of terrorists should be blown up.It helps to preveny future 15:04  |  Vittorio 05/02/08   2.   To stop terror 15:05  |  Stranger 05/02/08   3.   Don`t make it more complicated than it is 15:07  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/08   4.   responses 1 & 2 15:19  |  Sylvie 05/02/08   5.   Barak Can Only End Terror If He Does What He Did Last Time 15:23  |  Yishai Kohen 05/02/08   6.   Deja Vu 15:36  |  Sam 05/02/08   7.   To Vittorio 15:44  |  Challenger 05/02/08   8.   Dear Sylvie from Holon. 15:45  |  sandra chitayat 05/02/08   9.   Re 3: It isn`t complicated 15:51  |  Bernard 05/02/08   10.   Why is this news? 15:54  |  fred 05/02/08   11.   Blowing up homes has precisely the opposite effect 16:01  |  allon 05/02/08   12.   #4 A ideology not for jews. 16:07  |  K 05/02/08   13.   #6 sam israel is murdering every day 16:12  |  reality check 05/02/08   14.   less talk, more rock. raze gaza. 16:14  |  frenz 05/02/08   15.   Barak vows. 16:15  |  David Gershon 05/02/08   16.   How to really stop terrorist attacks 16:20  |  Oliver Ryan 05/02/08   17.   Non-jew, non-arab perspective 16:20  |  Alastair 05/02/08   18.   Natallie Durson - Yeah. Very receptive Idiot. A 16:25  |  viking 05/02/08   19.   After this talk what we will see? 16:32  |  Vital 05/02/08   20.   Kids gloves off 16:37  |  dan 05/02/08   21.   K - you`re very mistaken 16:40  |  Mike Friedman 05/02/08   22.   Alastair - The problem with your comment is as follows: 16:58  |  u 05/02/08   23.   Milking the cow 16:59  |  The Archives 05/02/08   24.   #21 Mistaken I am not 17:17  |  K 05/02/08   25.   Barak - Like Olmert - Too Much Talk, Too Little Action 17:18  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/02/08   26.   #24 K, another fool 17:34  |  Donnie 05/02/08   27.   #17alistair anon educted commentator crap once more 17:39  |  v hardman 05/02/08   28.   vows........... 18:00  |  ljf-canada 05/02/08   29.   # 17 alastair 18:23  |  dan 05/02/08   30.   Alastair`s Non-Historical Understanding 18:38  |  Tex 05/02/08   31.   "wow" 19:09  |  GPWS1 05/02/08   32.   #30 tex loser 19:17  |  Donnie 05/02/08   33.   I wonder who`s lying? 20:33  |  Steve Beikirch 05/02/08   34.   when? 20:37  |  frenz 05/02/08   35.   So tell me what is the solution. 21:01  |  Gabriel Hasson 05/02/08   36.   "then"....#34 21:16  |  GPWS1 05/02/08   37.   #17 Alastair - Which borders? 21:28  |  * BEN JABO 05/02/08   38.   to Donnie; my friend 21:31  |  Larry54 05/02/08   39.   #33 Beikirch 21:34  |  * BEN JABO 05/02/08   40.   response to Dimona attack 21:37  |  b. leifer 05/02/08   41.   Hollow bragging 22:01  |  Mark Lincoln 05/02/08   42.   #35 the solution is all arabs to arab palestine jordan 22:16  |  v hardman 05/02/08   43.   Donnie 22:19  |  Marc 05/02/08   44.   Tired of empty threats. Going to sleep. Unless Quassam wakes me. 23:41  |  bat yam 05/02/08   45.   Annex little pieces of land forever with every rocket attac 00:05  |  Sam 06/02/08   46.   mark in L.A. 00:46  |  Larry54 06/02/08   47.   #17 06:13  |  Moshe 06/02/08   48.   #17 06:32  |  Moshe 06/02/08   49.   STOP THE VOWING - DO THE DOING 06:44  |  * BEN JABO 06/02/08

Today Online Gov't task force mulls international presence in Gaza Strip Responses: 111 Two children lightly hurt in Qassam strike on Negev kibbutz Responses: 78 Arab lecturer told to respect students' right to wear IDF uniform Responses: 148 Egypt warns Hamas against provocations on Gaza border Responses: 60 Ukraine college rector: 'No such thing as anti-Semitism' Responses: 80 Rosner's Domain The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut From Super Bowl drama to Super Tuesday drama True or false: Obama is pro-Palestinian, McCain will appoint James Baker Iraq, remember? (WTR) Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference More Headlines 19:47 Two children lightly hurt in rocket strike on kibbutz 17:16 Israel to begin work on separation fence along border with Egypt 12:33 Winograd panel member hints PM shouldn't quit despite damning report 15:42 The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut 14:55 Police official: Gap in W. Bank barrier is calling out to bombers 19:03 Top U.S. Chabad rabbi fined $0.5 million in toxic waste case 18:56 Irish woman, daughter stuck in Gaza after Egypt seals border 15:29 German TV stars taken off-air over Nazis references 16:01 Israel, EU sign understandings on way to global aviation deal 17:24 Dichter: Heating, air conditioning to be installed in new prisons 14:33 Super Tuesday: U.S. vote puts McCain ahead; Clinton, Obama draw 12:36 Interior Minister to ultra-Orthodox: Find work and enlist to IDF Previous Editions Select Day 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations U.S. CITIZEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Last chance to vote in Israel, in-person, Democrats-Abroad Global Primary. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt