March 28, 2001
The sniper terrorist's finger did not shake

1. It can be noticed that in the last few days there has been a sharp escalation in terror attacks perpetrated by Palestinians. This escalation is expressed by an increase in the use of explosive devices (Herzlyia, Petah Tikva, Jerusalem), mortar attacks from the Gaza Strip and ambush shootings, and it reached a peak of horror yesterday with a sniper attack on Jewish children in Hebron which resulted in the wounding of a young girl and the killing of a 10 month-old baby girl.

2. These terror attacks were carried out at a time when Israel had eased up the restrictions on the Palestinians in light of their allegations of the supposed "starvation" of the Palestinian population. It is therefore apparent that there is a clear link between the measures of prevention taken against terror attacks - such as closure and blockade - and the attacks themselves. When measures of prevention are implemented, the rate of terror attacks is significantly reduced. Despite this, Israel has adopted the policy of trying to prevent harm to innocent Palestinian civilians while focusing its efforts on those who carry out terrorist attacks.

3. As to the situation in Hebron, it should be noted that Jews have been living in Hebron for centuries and that Arabs have not refrained from using any means that could prevent them from doing so.

4. The question should be asked as to how is it possible that the sniper terrorist's finger did not shake when he pulled the trigger while targeting the head of a 10-month old infant. Such an murder is according to all norms loathsome, despicable and cowardly, and should be unequivocally condemned