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A damaged car at the scene of a terror attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday in which a Palestinian man rammed a bulldozer into a string of vehicles killing at least three people. (Reuters)
Last update - 23:54 02/07/2008
Barak: Israel must respond immediately to Jerusalem attack
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Lupolianski, Jerusalem 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared Wednesday that Israel must respond immediately after a Palestinian man deliberately plowed a bulldozer into a crowded bus and a string of vehicles in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding dozens of others.

Shortly after the attack, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered ministers to examine the possibility of razing the terrorist's home in East Jerusalem.

In talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog, and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, Olmert also ordered the ministers to consider revoking National Insurance Institute stipends from the terrorist's family.
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The ministers promised to examine the legal guidelines of each order and report back by the end of the day, so that the cabinet could begin the proceedings.

Barak later said he believed Israel must carry out a demolition of the terrorist's home.

The legal basis to demolish a terrorist's house is regulation 119 in the Mandate-era emergency regulations, stipulating that a military commander may demolish any house, neighborhood or town, if a resident of theirs had perpetrated violence.

During the second intifada the IDF demolished 270 houses. It stopped doing so after a defense establishment committee recommended at the beginning of 2005 to discontinue the practice, as its deterrence effect had not been established. Then defense minister Shaul Mofaz adopted the recommendations.

In January 2003 the High Court of Justice approved demolishing or sealing the homes of the members of the Silwan terror unit, which was behind the murder of 35 people in several terror attacks, including those on Moment cafe and Mount Scopus campus.

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter named the terrorist as Hosam Taysir Dwayyat, 30, a father of two from the south Jerusalem village of Zur Baher.

Although a few Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attacks, Dichter said the terrorist had no known affiliations with any militant groups.

Later Wednesday, five military vehicles gathered outside the family's
two-story home in East Jerusalem. Police went inside the home, interviewing relatives, taking pictures and gathering evidence before leaving about an hour later.

U.S. President George W. Bush spoke with Olmert and extended his condolences to the Israeli people over the day's murderous terrorist attack. The two men also discussed regional issues.

Following the attack, Israel sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council asking it to condemn the act quickly and without conditions.

Jerusalem Mayor: Terrorists finding new ways to hurt the city

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski was quick to respond to Wednesday's attack, saying that terrorists were constantly coming up with new ways to harm Jerusalem.

At least three people were killed in the attack and dozens more were wounded.

"My daughter was in the next bus, but she wasn't hurt," Lupolianski told reporters. "To our regret the attackers do not cease coming up with new ways to strike at the heart of the Jewish people here in Jerusalem."

Government spokesman Mark Regev called the attack a "senseless act of murderous violence.

"Those who refuse to condemn this act of terror are exposing themselves for what they really are - namely the enemies of fundamental human values," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Shas Chairman Eli Yishai also responded to the attack, saying that Israel should demolish the home of the perpetrator's family.

If the perpetrator was an Israeli citizen, Yishai said, the law must be changed so that when an Israeli Arab carries out an attack his citizenship is revoked and he is deported. "If it wasn't an Israeli citizen," the Trade Minister went on to say, "we must fight terror as terror has to be fought. We must demolish the terrorists' homes and cut off their stipends."

The Shas leader added that despite the terror attack, negotiations with Palestinian militants should continue over the release of captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

"There is no point in pressing forward with peace talks right now, as long as there are two [Palestinian] political groups - Hamas and Fatah," Yishai said. "They fight with each other and we suffer the consequences."

MK Arieh Eldad (National Union) said that the "murderous terror attack in Jerusalem" was a direct result of Israel's kowtowing to terror. "This is a policy of restraint and immoral dealings with terrorist organizations," he said, referring to a recent cease fire agreement with the rulers of the Gaza Strip, Hamas.

According to Eldad, the families of those killed and the wounded know that the ones responsible for the attack are the members of Israel's government, who "stopped fighting terrorism."

MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said that the decision not to demolish the home of the perpetrator of the terror attack at Mercaz Harav on March 6, in fact commissioned Wednesday's attack. "If we continue to avoid obliterating terror, we will invite more attacks," he said.

Hamas: Attack 'natural result' of Israeli aggression

The Islamist Hamas group on Wednesday said that the attack was the "natural result" of Israeli agression, if the motives of the perpetrator were political, Hamas said.

Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas did not have information on the reasons why the East Jerusalem Palestinian went on the rampage added that if the motives were linked to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, "then it will be a natural result of the continuation of the Israeli aggression against our people in West Bank and Gaza Strip."

Another Palestinian militant group, the radical Islamic Jihad, also justified the attack.

"The enemy has to expect more attacks if it keeps the occupation and the aggression against our land and people," the movement said in a statement.

Israel and the Gazan militant groups entered into a ceasefire on June 19, whereby the militants will cease their almost daily rocket attacks on southern Israeli towns and villages, and Israel will halts its attacks onand in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The truce does not cover the West Bank.

"If the occupation [Israel] thought that the Gaza lull will enable it to move freely in West Bank, we say this is illusion," the Islamic Jihad statement added.

It was not initially clear of the perpetrator of Wednesday;s attack belonged to any Palestinian militant group, or whether he acted alone.

Related articles:
  • At least four dead, dozens hurt in Jerusalem terror attack
  • Jerusalem attack witness: Bulldozer lifted car like a toy
  • 8 die in terror attack on Jerusalem yeshiva (06/03/08
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      1.   So do you Mr. Mayor! 14:17  |  Palestinian in UK 02/07/08
      2.   Can`t wait for the mourners tent 14:45  |  Seth J. Frantzman 02/07/08
      3.   #2 Well then, vote for a government that 15:07  |  John Allen 02/07/08
      4.   Win the war against terror. 15:15  |  Jean Van Daem 02/07/08
      5.   Maybe not all arabs are so happy 15:26  |  ralph is back 02/07/08
      6.   Lupolianski 15:33  |  imad 02/07/08
      7.   Take away all ID cards of all E-Jerusalem arabs 15:51  |  Allon 02/07/08
      8.   Have respect, people have died 15:56  |  Toby 02/07/08
      9.   House Demolition Is Immoral 16:28  |  KEN 02/07/08
      10.   The destruction of the home was on a list before this crime today 16:30  |  Gisele 02/07/08
      11.   PAL IN UK actually Arabs in Jerusalem have jobs & benefits 16:30  |  PETER SM 02/07/08
      12.   IMAD how do you intend to do your" elimination"? 16:32  |  PETER SM 02/07/08
      13.   The only real solution 16:34  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/07/08
      14.   Weren`t all the arab homes going to be destroyed 16:36  |  duh 02/07/08
      15.   imad 16:39  |  RW 02/07/08
      16.   Vengence is kosher, and oh so tastey! 16:41  |  Natallie Durson 02/07/08
      17.   Civilized "Jewish" justice 16:45  |  Ismail 02/07/08
      18.   No,it`s not possible,Dana&Aliza Olmert &their ilk would prevent 16:47  |  Absolute Sweden 02/07/08
      19.   what about jewish israeli killing palestinian israelis? 16:48  |  quest of justice 02/07/08
      20.   Palestinian in UK 16:51  |  RW 02/07/08
      21.   Ralph is back... 16:51  |  Hanoman 02/07/08
      22.   Raze Olmert`s Home 16:54  |  Steve 02/07/08
      23.   Collective punishment 16:55  |  Keops 02/07/08
      24.   Send them all to Iran where they are so loved 17:04  |  Allon 02/07/08
      25.   Yes definitely, 17:09  |  Caro 02/07/08
      26.   YOUR END IS NEAR SO-CALLED "PALESTINIANS" 17:11  |  WARRIOR 02/07/08
      27.   I`d rampage too if there was a wall splitting my house in two 17:14  |  Danny 02/07/08
      28.   Terror and Shalit. 17:15  |  Vital 02/07/08
      29.   13#Terrorists or lunitics 17:18  |  Keops 02/07/08
      30.   Olmert still doesn`t know if terrorist`s house can be demolished? 17:21  |  MR 02/07/08
      31.   Olmert needs to ask?...Whether, it is this tragic attack, again? 17:32  |  bat yam 02/07/08
      32.   to the Palestinian living in the UK 17:46  |  Dov 02/07/08
      33.   Only a barbaric state like Israel does this sort of thing 17:51  |  Clickfool 02/07/08
      34.   Sad but understandable. You reap what you sow. 17:52  |  Lou Medel 02/07/08
      35.   Durson...Baseball Anyone? 17:59  |  Jabotinsky 02/07/08
      36.   response to `palestinian` in UK 18:01  |  A 02/07/08
      37.   no affiliation - proves that the people are desperate 18:03  |  stop the occupation 02/07/08
      38.   Police state tactics 18:21  |  ola 02/07/08
      39.   Sorry # 6 18:22  |  American perspective 02/07/08
      40.   Is this an excuse? 18:29  |  utagawa 02/07/08
      41.   reporting facts 18:38  |  naledi 02/07/08
      42.   Of course it`s possible but it won`t happen 18:40  |  Nuchem 02/07/08
      43.   Clickfool,Judaism believes in an eye for an eye! The hebrews were 18:40  |  lakshmi 02/07/08
      44.   wondering 18:41  |  bob 02/07/08
      45.   Haaretzyou are disgusting - Why make this tragedy .. 18:57  |  Miriam Ashkelon 02/07/08
      46.   #19, Clickfool, only a barbarian wouldnt condemn the monster 18:58  |  David 02/07/08
      47.   #29 Lakshmi 19:23  |  Jabotinsky 02/07/08
      48.   wondering 19:30  |  bob 02/07/08
      49.   Why punish his Family ? 19:37  |  David Levingston 02/07/08
      50.   Look at the noise for a couple dozen injured while over 150 car a 19:46  |  Pervert 02/07/08
      51.   Look at the noise for a couple dozen injured while over 150 car a 19:46  |  Pervert 02/07/08
      52.   Muslim- superiority complex, intolerance, dogma= dictatorships 20:06  |  JJ 02/07/08
      53.   Barak 20:08  |  Steve 02/07/08
      54.   Judean, Samarian and East Jerusalem Arabs education 20:14  |  JJ 02/07/08
      55.   The Oslo peace process didn`t have any chance to bring peace. 20:15  |  Jean Van Daem 02/07/08
      56.   Retaliate against who? 20:23  |  R. Corrie 02/07/08
      57.   Savage Israel 20:24  |  TimothyL 02/07/08
      58.   #33 20:24  |  Toronto 02/07/08
      59.   Don`t Demolish 20:26  |  Tarek 02/07/08
      60.   On Olmert and Barak reaction to terrorist atack 20:27  |  George 02/07/08
      61.   31 Jobotinsky,correct about the spread of Islam,however,the 20:30  |  lakshmi 02/07/08
      62.   31. Jabotinsky to Lakshmi 20:32  |  the voice within 02/07/08
      63.   Clickstooge forgot to mention the bulldozer driver ... 20:37  |  Ali 02/07/08
      64.   mentally ill vs. terrorist 20:40  |  Tarek 02/07/08
      65.   chess game analogy 21:05  |  yonah 02/07/08
      66.   SO CALLED "ISRAELIS" NEVER PEACE FOR YOU! WAAARR!!! 21:08  |  Ghandi 02/07/08
      67.   RW- Have the people posting are jews in America! 21:09  |  America 02/07/08
      68.   Just kill somebody. Anybody. Israel always did. 21:10  |  Andreas 02/07/08
      69.   Deport Terorrist Village to Gaza 21:10  |  Baruch Gold 02/07/08
      70.   "natural result" = terror??? 21:16  |  Absolute Israel 02/07/08
      71.   Punish the perp, not innocent children! 21:20  |  Dia 02/07/08
      72.   Was this a terror attack? 21:27  |  Adam 02/07/08
      73.   the future of news 21:30  |  Dave Copeland 02/07/08
      74.   Savage Arabs # 21:36  |  Nat Weinstein 02/07/08
      75.   Barak wants urgent response 21:38  |  Arie 02/07/08
      76.   Whats the justice in razing his house?????? 21:45  |  Lennart 02/07/08
      77.   DURSON From BAD to WORSE 21:46  |  JOJO 02/07/08
      78.   When will you learn Israel??????????? 21:51  |  Lennart is frustrate 02/07/08
      79.   Yes, Palestinian, "the racist filth in shin bet and the IDF" 21:52  |  Freethinker 02/07/08
      80.   Right on, Steve: RAZE OLMERT`S HOME!! 21:54  |  Freethinker 02/07/08
      81.   aND MAKE SURE HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE IN IT.. 21:55  |  Freethinker 02/07/08
      82.   respond immediately 21:55  |  Ralph 02/07/08
      83.   #to Clickfool 22:02  |  CM 02/07/08
      84.   lakshmi Jewish ethics are barbaric, which are yours? 22:10  |  CM 02/07/08
      85.   Burning down the house 22:18  |  NJ 02/07/08
      86.   Hit Sudan! 22:24  |  Josh 02/07/08
      87.   If this was a lone man, why make the Pals pay? 22:31  |  German Leader 02/07/08
      88.   Raze MK`s houses 22:36  |  Steve 02/07/08
      89.   terrorist 22:38  |  marco 02/07/08
      90.   For #49 lakhsmi 22:41  |  Urani Diot 02/07/08
      91.   Hamas: Attack `natural result` of Israeli aggression 22:58  |  R 02/07/08
      92.   Hamas: natural, ya think? 23:01  |  Paul Freedman 02/07/08
      93.   Perfect response... release more terrorists 23:02  |  Gilad 02/07/08
      94.   75hey adolf. cut the crap & dont mix apples & oranges. 23:08  |  SSDD! 02/07/08
      95.   Bulldozers 23:14  |  james phillips 02/07/08
      96.   `hit sudan` in response to bulldozer attack 23:16  |  naledi 02/07/08
      97.   Zur Baher residents will regret this 23:16  |  michelle 02/07/08
      98.   Demolishing Year 23:19  |  E. Corrie 02/07/08
      99.   As long as there are Moslems, there will be terrorists. 23:28  |  Margie 02/07/08
      100.   For #7 Nutella Durson on vengence so tasty 23:31  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 02/07/08
      101.   respond immediately...??? ha..ha... 23:39  |  ljf-canada 02/07/08
      102.   #7 durson: What a scoundrel you are, a woman! 23:40  |  Vittorio 02/07/08
      103.   #7 NUTallie - Stop the pretense 23:47  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/08
      104.   #22 Clickfool -sick of sex 23:50  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/08
      105.   Nahh 23:50  |  Colin Wright 02/07/08
      106.   Barak means israel must reply cause that`s all that`s gonnahappen 23:52  |  all talk 02/07/08
      107.   75, if it`s not right then bring them back to life 23:54  |  Israel to Amalekover 02/07/08
      108.   The Rogue States war criminals get into gear 00:03  |  Labhras 03/07/08
      109.   #11 Rw 00:07  |  Labhras 03/07/08
      110.   good answer 00:12  |  jacob 03/07/08
      111.   "razing his home" fits the crime" ? 00:20  |  redmike 03/07/08
      112.   Israel must respond 00:29  |  menachem nachshon 03/07/08
      113.   Asking for Permission 00:38  |  Ron 03/07/08
      114.   To # Ralph 00:38  |  Ricardo Levy 03/07/08
      115.   Raze Caterpiller 00:40  |  david shultz 03/07/08
      116.   Barak Talks Tough But Will Do Nothing As Usual 00:55  |  Living In Rishon 03/07/08
      117.   The attack is disgusting, but so is olmert`s response 01:10  |  disgusted jew 03/07/08
      118.   above 01:25  |  moishe 03/07/08
      119.   Search as we may... 01:31  |  Maureen Ann 03/07/08
      120.   Inside their mental disease. 01:32  |  Sergius 03/07/08
      121.   Culture of hate - Palestinian myth 01:40  |  steve dill 03/07/08
      122.   correct response 01:42  |  steve dill 03/07/08
      123.   72 CM.if you read my post with some balance you will understand 01:45  |  lakshmi 03/07/08
      124.   Jews are hypocrites 01:55  |  MaryLouise 03/07/08
      125.   Unfortunately 01:57  |  Michel 03/07/08
      126.   barak 02:09  |  azad 03/07/08
      127.   advice 02:48  |  Harry 03/07/08
      128.   sadly this is more Olmert/Barak talk no action 03:22  |  zionist forever 03/07/08
      129.   #112 Mary Louse NYC 03:42  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/08
      130.   still want to keep the other 249,999? 03:49  |  Shelley 03/07/08
      131.   Barak - Immediate Response??? 03:52  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/08
      132.   When Will We Learn? 05:14  |  Adam Astan 03/07/08
      133.   DON`T WORRY-LET HASH-M WORRY FOR YOU 05:53  |  Ben Tzion 03/07/08
      134.   Destroying the dead man`s house... 06:06  |  Silvienne 03/07/08
      135.   Steve dill in California... 06:07  |  Silvienne 03/07/08
      136.   #12, Hanoman... 06:10  |  Silvienne 03/07/08
      137.   Three Cheers For That Young Soldier 06:46  |  Douglas Fireman 03/07/08
      138.   Barak cannot respond at this time 07:07  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/08
      139.   #117 Silvienne - There is a story out 07:13  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/08
      140.   @ Baruch Gold 16:21  |  Vim 03/07/08
      141.   OBAMA - No Propaganda, hard cold facts 19:01  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/08
      142.   THE ARAB STATE APARTHEID AGAINST ISRAEL 11:45  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 04/07/08
      143.   #139 Silvienne - I had expected the courtesy of reply 18:19  |  * BEN JABO 05/07/08
      144.   lakshmi "The hebrews were a primititive war mongering people" 13:38  |  Adam 06/07/08
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