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Palestinian Hamas supporters celebrating after a terror attack at a Jerusalem Yeshiva left 8 people dead on Thursday. (Reuters)
Last update - 10:25 07/03/2008
ANALYSIS: Gazans see attack on yeshiva as unusual achievement
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hamas, Jerusalem 

The celebratory shooting in the air in Gaza that followed the terrorist attack in Jerusalem last night showed that the penetration of Merkaz Harav was viewed as an unusual political and military achievement for the group responsible.

The attack brought something to a wide public in the Gaza Strip that it had been waiting for all week - revenge. Advertisement

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The horror scenes from Gaza at the beginning of the week sent Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups racing for a terror attack, knowing that whoever managed to pull one off first would score major points in the Arab and Palestinian street.

The Israel Defense Forces' attacks in Gaza, which caused the death of many civilians, provided the legitimacy for yesterday's brutal attack.

Political significance aside, the terrorist demonstrated he could carry out an attack that required prior intelligence gathering. This was not an accidental arrival at some city's commercial center and the setting off an explosive charge, but entering one of Jerusalem's religious neighborhoods and penetrating a yeshiva, which the Palestinians see as a prestigious target.

The perpetrator knew where he was heading and that many armed young men would be there. Yet he was able to enter an armed place without being stopped. He undoubtedly received help from Jerusalem people who were familiar with the location and target. Perhaps he even had a blue identity card to help him move freely in the city.

The attack took place a few hours after the talks between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Egyptian representatives began in El-Arish. If Hamas was behind the attack, it will have proved that its threat of brutal revenge on Israel was no empty threat. This would presumably give it some advantage of a position of strength from which to agree to a cease-fire. It is most unlikely that Israel will see it this way.

The attack on Merkaz Harav was probably planned in a West Bank city or in East Jerusalem. The Islamic organizations are under pressure from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. They have proved that despite the PA's arrests and the relentless manhunt by the Shin Bet security service and IDF, they can still carry out a major terror attack in the Israeli heartland.

Related articles:
  • Eight killed when terrorist opens fire in library at Jerusalem yeshiva
  • Abbas slams Jerusalem attack; Israel: Peace talks will go on
  • Jerusalem yeshiva student: I shot the terrorist twice in the head
  • Mercaz Harav - the flagship of national-religious yeshivas
  • Hamas: Cease-fire deal must include West Bank
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      1.   Why are Yeshivas a prestigous target? 03:13  |  William 07/03/08
      2.   Could it have been spontaneous? 03:14  |  The Question man 07/03/08
      3.   gaining points 03:26  |  ChanahS 07/03/08
      4.   The Islamic Charity org.which provides for thousands of orphans 03:27  |  lakshmi 07/03/08
      5.   Hello Olmert ...are you there ? 04:44  |  Avrum 07/03/08
      6.   gov`t has to go 05:47  |  hf 07/03/08
      7.   WAKE UP 05:49  |  zaxter 07/03/08
      8.   Unjustifable 05:58  |  DB 07/03/08
      9.   Defeatist spin 06:05  |  Shmuel 07/03/08
      10.   OCCUPTION IS SOURCE OF ALL EVIL 06:12  |  Marco 07/03/08
      11.   If you let terrorist have peace then we have war 06:56  |  Moseh 07/03/08
      12.   World does not need sick Palestine 08:00  |  Joe Sittizen 07/03/08
      13.   Yeshiva palestinian terrorist 08:02  |  PARIS 07/03/08
      14.   Outcome of war - Agree with #4 08:07  |  me 07/03/08
      15.   This is journalism? 08:17  |  Michael 07/03/08
      16.   The solution to terror. 08:22  |  Jean Van Daem 07/03/08
      17.   after reading this piece of ... I feel like... 08:30  |  Crazy Ahmed 07/03/08
      18.   A lesson. 08:46  |  Dudka 07/03/08
      19.   Stop the Genocide 08:48  |  Peace Activist 07/03/08
      20.   120 dead Palestinians, less than 10 dead Israelis 09:46  |  Sarah 07/03/08
      21.   Legitimate target 09:54  |  Bon Levi 07/03/08
      22.   "Gazans see attack on yeshiva as unusual achivement 09:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/03/08
      23.   Free Palestine! 10:06  |  Nizar 07/03/08
      24.   Sarah,good post,but there is a solution;israel has to become a 10:12  |  lakshmi 07/03/08
      25.   Think again you fool jews. Stop killing Arabs children, women and 10:17  |  American 07/03/08
      26.   Sarah 20 - bodycounting, are you? 10:19  |  ChanahS 07/03/08
      27.   The longer this conflict will continue the more the danger...... 10:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/03/08
      28.   Thoughtful and interesting article - unlike the talkback rentamob 10:24  |  Chanalau, Tova 07/03/08
      29.   To Sarah #20 - You seem like a nice person but... 10:37  |  B`Galil 07/03/08
      30.   1William,this is no ordinary religious school,it combines 10:58  |  lakshmi 07/03/08
      31.   Mourning with no electricity for a year 11:09  |  George Lechter 07/03/08
      32.   Some cultures see achievement 11:11  |  Gina 07/03/08
      33.   To Michael #15 11:12  |  Simon 07/03/08
      34.   What about the counterstrike? 11:12  |  Konrad 07/03/08
      35.   Sarah #20 11:13  |  JewishHeart 07/03/08
      36.   Answering William # 1 11:13  |  Clickfool 07/03/08
      37.   #27, Dino, let me tell you a secret 11:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/03/08
      38.   terrorist attack in jerusalem 11:50  |  Malcolm Bass 07/03/08
      39.   I`m very sorry for the victims... 12:13  |  Edith 07/03/08
      40.   #27 I agree Swiss Dino 12:16  |  Edith 07/03/08
      41.   SARAH (#20) how many are militants? 12:30  |  Gil 07/03/08
      42.   SARAH (#20) how many are militants? 12:31  |  Gil 07/03/08
      43.   A Britsh comment (The Independent) 12:49  |  oetis 07/03/08
      44.   To Malcolm Bass # 30 - Not Gazans and not Palestinians 12:50  |  Natasha 07/03/08
      45.   #3 Ghanah 12:59  |  James 07/03/08
      46.   Swiss (Dino) If you are inferring 13:18  |  Gil 07/03/08
      47.   once Occupation is OVER,then Bloodshed will be over too. 13:23  |  Peacelover 07/03/08
      48.   # 20 Sara - on value of Jewish life. 13:29  |  17 07/03/08
      49.   #32, but what is right and what is wrong? 13:39  |  Fritz T. 07/03/08
      50.   # 37 Cipora, I will also tell you a little secret..... 13:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/03/08
      51.   Terrible Vtech type attack 13:45  |  Aphemia 07/03/08
      52.   # 43 Gil Kuwait and Israel = Not exactly the same 13:49  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/03/08
      53.   Pseudo Intellectuals, such as Clickfool, bbc user. 14:00  |  Black&White=Gray 07/03/08
      54.   # 27 DINO - You are right 14:12  |  17 07/03/08
      55.   # 36 clicky 14:12  |  danny 07/03/08
      56.   # 30 LAKSHMI 14:15  |  DANNY 07/03/08
      57.   # 30 LAKSHMI 14:20  |  dannyAUSTRALIA 07/03/08
      58.   # 20 Sara - on value of Jewish life 14:41  |  17 07/03/08
      59.   This attack by an Israeli citizen 14:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/03/08
      60.   Not sure about the accuracy of the last para. 15:01  |  Rebekah S 07/03/08
      61.   Mourning Today fighting back tomorrow! 15:08  |  Shimshon 07/03/08
      62.   Not entirely likely - peacelover 15:20  |  Mark Lincoln 07/03/08
      63.   What about the counterstrike? 15:27  |  Mark Lincoln 07/03/08
      64.   The irony of the "Independent" comment 15:32  |  ZISD 07/03/08
      65.   Too true Mr. Issacharoff 15:34  |  Mark Lincoln 07/03/08
      66.   DISGUSTING 15:35  |  TAZ 07/03/08
      67.   Murder at the Yeshiva 15:37  |  Shimshon 07/03/08
      68.   Reminiscing on Tragedy of Yeshiva and beyond ! 15:37  |  Jona 07/03/08
      69.   Swiss (DiNo) #49, I see where you are going! 15:43  |  Gil 07/03/08
      70.   Swiss (DiNo) #49, I see where you are going! 15:44  |  Gil 07/03/08
      71.   Hypocricy 15:49  |  Big