ISRAEL
AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Terrorism continued to have a major impact in Israel
and the occupied territories in 1996. Palestinian extremists opposed to
peace with Israel conducted four massive suicide bombings in Tel Aviv and
Jerusalem early in the year. which killed 65 civilians. The overall number
of anti-Israeli terrorists attacks instigated by Palestinians declined to
14 in 1996 from 33 in 1995.
On 25 February a suicide bomber blew up a commuter
bus in Jerusalem, killing 26, including three US citizens and injuring 80
76 including another three US citizens. The Islamic Resistance Movement
(HAMAS) 
claimed
responsibility for the bombing. (HAMAS also claimed responsibility for a
second bombing on the same day in Ashqelon, killed two persons, in an act
of domestic terrorism). On 3 March a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on a
bus in Jerusalem, killing 19 and injuring six others. This bomb was
wrapped with ball bearings and other metal fragments to increase
casualties. A HAMAS spokesman claimed responsibility and said the attack
was in response to Israel's rejection of a conditional cease-fire offered
by HAMAS. On 4 March a suicide bomber detonated a bomb outside the
Dizengoff Center, Tel Aviv's largest shopping mall, killing 20 and
wounding 75 others, including two US citizens and children celebrating the
Jewish Purim holiday. HAMAS and the PIJ both claimed responsibility for
this bombing.
Other Palestinian groups that reject the peace
process also launched anti-Israeli attacks in 1996, including the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Abu Musa's
Fatah-Intifada. Unidentified gunmen, presumably Palestinian rejectionists,
conducted another cross-border attack from Lebanon in March, killing 2
soldiers and wounding 9 others. On 11 December gunmen from the PFLP
attacked a car carrying Israeli settlers near the settlement of Bet El
north of Ram Allah in the West Bank, killing a woman and her 12-year-old
son . The PFLP claimed responsibility and threatened other attacks on
settlers. Palestinian Authority (PA) courts later convicted three PFLP
members for the attack.
Israeli extremists also committed terrorist acts in
1996. On 4 Febru
ary
an unidentified Israeli reportedly fired on a group of Palestinian
students ion the main Nabulus-Ram Allah road, Shemesh. On 21 October an
Israeli reportedly shot and killed a Palestinian man near the West Bank
village of Sinjil. The United States and Israel increased cooperation
against terrorism in 1996. In April President Clinton and then Prime
Minister Peres agreed to form a US-Israel Joint security effort. The
Palestinian Authority, which is responsible for security in the Gaza Strip
and most West Bank towns, continued in 1996 to rein in Palestinian
violence aimed at undermining the peace process. The PA security apparatus
prevented several planned terrorist attacks and arrested Palestinians
suspected of involvement in terrorist operations, including one who
admitted his involvement in the murder of a dual US-Israeli citizen on 13
May.Chairman Arafat and other senior PA officials regularly condemned acts
of terrorism.
HAMAS (Islamic
Resistance Movement)
Description:
HAMAS was formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch
of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various elements of HAMAS have used both
political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of
establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. HAMAS is
loosely structured, with some elements working openly through mosques and
social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize
activities, and distribute propaganda. Militant elements of HAMAS,
operating clandestinely, have advocated and used violence to advance their
goals. HAMAS's strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and a few areas
of the West Bank. It also has engaged in peaceful political activity, such
as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections.
Activities:
HAMAS activists, especially those in the Izz el-Din al-Qassem Forces,
have conducted many attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets,
suspected Palestinian collaborators, and Fatah rivals.
Strength:
Unknown number of hardcore members; tens of thousands of supporters and
sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation:
Primarily the occupied territories, Israel, and Jordan.
External Aid:
Receives funding from Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private
benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some
fundraising and propaganda activity take place in Western Europe and North
America.
Chronology of Attacks
Kach* and Kahane Chai*
Alias:
KahaneChai*
Description:
Stated goal is to restore the biblical state of Israel. Kach (founded by
radical Israeli-American Rabbi Meir Kahane) and its offshoot Kahane Chai,
which means "Kahane Lives" (founded by Meir Kahane's son
Binyamin following his father's assassination in the United States), were
declared to be terrorist organizations in March 1994 by the Israeli
Cabinet under the 1948 Terrorism Law. This followed the groups' statements
in support of Dr. Baruch Goldstein's attack in February 1994 on the
al-Ibrahimi Mosque--Goldstein was affiliated with Kach--and their verbal
attacks on the Israeli Government.
Activities:
Organize protests against the Israeli Government. Harass and threaten
Palestinians in Hebron and the West Bank. Groups have threatened to attack
Arabs, Palestinians, and Israeli Government officials. They also claimed
responsibility for several shooting attacks on West Bank Palestinians in
which four persons were killed and two were wounded in 1993.
Strength:
Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation:
Israel and West Bank settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron.
External Aid:
Receives support from sympathizers in the United States and Europe.
Chronology of Attacks
The Palestine Islamic
Jihad (PIJ)
Description:
The PIJ, which originated among militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip
during the 1970s, is a series of loosely affiliated factions rather than a
cohesive group. The PIJ is committed to the creation of an Islamic
Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through holy war. Because
of its strong support for Israel, the United States has been identified as
an enemy of the PIJ. The PIJ also opposes moderate Arab governments that
it believes have been tainted by Western secularism.
Activities:
PIJ militants have threatened to retaliate against Israel and the United
States for the murder of PIJ leader Fathi Shaqaqi in Malta in October
1995. It has carried out suicide bombing attacks against Israeli targets
in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel. The PIJ has threatened to attack
US interests in Jordan.
Strength:
Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation:
Primarily Israel and the occupied territories and other parts of the
Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon. The largest faction is based in
Syria.
External Aid:
Probably rece ives financial assistance from Iran and possibly some
assistance from Syria.
Chronology of Attacks
Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)
Description:
Marxist group that split from the PFLP in 1969. Believes Palestinian
national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses.
Opposes the Declaration of Principles (DOP) signed in 1993. In early 1980s
occupied political stance midway between Arafat and the rejectionists.
Split into two factions in 1991, one pro-Arafat and another more hardline
faction headed by Nayif Hawatmah (which has suspended participation in the
PLO).
Activities:
In the 1970s carried out numerous small bombings and minor assaults and
some more spectacular operations in Israel and the occupied territories,
concentrating on Israeli targets. Involved only in border raids since
1988, but continues to oppose the Israel-PLO peace agreement.
Strength:
Estimated at 500 (total for both factions).
Location/Area of Operation:
Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-occupied territories; attacks have
taken place entirely in Israel and the occupied territories.
External Aid:
Receives financial and military aid from Syria and Libya.
Chronology of Attacks
Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Description:
Marxist-Leninist group founded in 1967 by George Habash as a member of
the PLO. Advocates a Pan-Arab revolution. Opposes the Declaration of
Principles signed in 1993 and has suspended participation in the PLO.
Activities:
Committed numerous international terrorist attacks during the 1970s.
Since 1978 PFLP has carried out numerous attacks against Israeli or
moderate Arab targets, including the killing of a settler and her son in
December 1996.
Strength:
Some 800.
Location/Area of Operation:
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories.
External Aid:
Receives most of its financial and military assistance from Syria and
Libya.