Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 20, 2008 Adar2 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:30 (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

Funeral of slain Jihad militant Mohammed Shehadeh in Bethlehem, last week (AP) Last update - 13:38 18/03/2008 Barak has no regrets over Bethlehem raid that killed 4 militants By Amos Harel and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Bethlehem, Islamic Jihad  The killing of four armed Palestinian fugitives by a special police anti-terrorist squad in Bethlehem last Wednesday was authorized at the highest levels of the General Staff, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak apparently has no regrets. A Haaretz investigation revealed that Barak was briefed about the operation in advance. As a result of the operation, Islamic Jihad violated the unofficial lull that befell the Gaza Strip after weeks of fighting, and led the radical group to resume its rocket attacks against Sderot. However, the political leadership is steadfast in its insistence that it made the right decision, and said its move reflects an intentional policy of decoupling the two fronts, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Advertisement On Sunday, the defense minister visited the anti-terror squad's headquarters in central Israel, a visit that had been planned but pushed forward for obvious reasons. In an unusual step, Barak's bureau released photos of the minister with the unit's members. It seems that Barak was trying to send a very clear message: Israel does not believe that it should be sorry for the action by the anti-terror squad, and reserves the right to arrest - and at times kill - fugitives in the West Bank as part of its continued anti-terror activities there. Barak had made such statements in public several days earlier, and it is possible to understand this as a kind of response to Hamas' leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, who said his organization is demanding that any cease-fire deal also apply to the West Bank. For the Israeli leadership, political and security alike, this is not acceptable. They argue that without the arrest of fugitives, the Palestinian organizations in the West Bank may copy the March 6 attack on the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem. They also say that at a time when Hezbollah is planning to avenge last month's killing of their terrorist mastermind, Imad Mughniyah, the current period is sensitive from a security standpoint and requires preemptive actions. The decision to arrest Mohammed Shahada of Islamic Jihad, the most senior militant killed during the incident in Bethlehem, was made several weeks ago. The operational plan was prepared by the Judea and Samaria division and was authorized by its commander, Brigadier General Noam Tivon. Approval was granted at the level of GOC Central Command, Major General Gadi Shamni, and the chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi. On the day of the terrorist attack against the yeshiva, army and police raided the Bethlehem home Shahada was staying in, but he was not there. On Wednesday, March 12, another attempt was made to arrest him. Barak was informed that morning of the operation. Just like the officers subordinate to him, Barak did not believe that the lull in the Gaza Strip was a reason to prevent the operation from taking place. Earlier that morning, another Islamic Jihad fugitive was killed at Kafr Saida, north of Tul Karm, in another operation by the anti-terrorist squad. Officially, the operation was for an arrest, but the fact that it ended with the killing of four fugitives did not come as a surprise. The police's anti-terror squads have much looser rules of engagement than similar army units. The commander on the ground is given a lot more liberty to make decisions. When it is known in advance, as it was in this case, that the fugitives are armed, the commanders are not inclined to take any unnecessary chances. Police officers admit that "in practice this became a shoot-to-kill operation." Related articles: Slain Jihad operative's son: My entire family has turned Hezbollah Twilight Zone / A great darkness has fallen PA to rebuild home of W. Bank militant leader killed in IDF raid Bookmark to del.icio.us   Free interpretation Yesha rabbinical council ruled it is forbidden for Jews to employ Arabs. Little Africa Tel Aviv is setting up a tent city to improve the living conditions of African refugees.   1.   Editorial talks as if Barak knows what he`s doing 10:59  |  Michael 18/03/08   2.   haaretz downgrade terror leaders to mere fugitives 12:42  |  don 18/03/08   3.   fugitives? armed fugitives? 13:10  |  peter 18/03/08   4.   shoot-to-kill 13:14  |  Iamashamed 18/03/08   5.   Yeh, right, Barak Is Bullshitting As Only He Canc 14:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/03/08   6.   Regrets? For not killing them before the Yeshiva Massacre 14:39  |  Tony 18/03/08   7.   the message is perfectly clear 14:45  |  whizbang 18/03/08   8.   Authorized by 14:49  |  Shual 18/03/08   9.   As everyone knows, Barak is a liar 15:20  |  Chanalau, Tova 18/03/08   10.   Thanks for stating the obvious 15:43  |  B 18/03/08   11.   Whizbang`s Message 16:01  |  Tex 18/03/08   12.   The raid was justified indeed. 16:05  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/03/08   13.   Lebanon redux 23:27  |  John 19/03/08   14.   Barak 00:18  |  vicky 20/03/08

Today Online Tom Segev: Merkel slams Qassams, but ignores Israel's actions Responses: 260 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal for long-term Gaza truce Responses: 69 High Court closes off use of major highway to Palestinians Responses: 176 Study finds Israeli Jews increasingly racist toward Arabs Responses: 240 Security forces fear double Hezbollah attack in Israel, abroad Responses: 120 Rosner's Domain McCain rep to Jewish crowd: Christian right 'serious problem' Were Shakespeare's Plays Written By A Jewish Woman? (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Did Iraq have ties to Al Qaeda? (WTR) More Headlines 01:38 McCain: Iranian threat to U.S. linked to Hamas aid 02:12 Principle agreement would put Egypt in charge of Gaza power 01:45 Bin Laden slams Europe for anti-Islamic cartoons, vows reaction 19:27 Yesha rabbinical council chief: Don't rent houses to Arabs 23:28 Prisons Service: Underage girls treated inhumanely in custody 18:18 Obama at oratorical best, but Wright saga still not over 23:24 Rights group accuses Airport Authority of 'discrimination' 20:05 J'lem police chief: Cop on duty should've stopped yeshiva attacker 00:39 Rubinstein international piano competition / Cause for vexation 10:07 Security forces fear double Hezbollah revenge attack in Israel, abroad 02:26 Foreign residents no longer vying for Jerusalem properties 20:44 Foreign Ministry summons Swiss envoy to J'lem over Iran deal Previous Editions Select Day 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar

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