April 2, 2002

Dear Friend:

Yesterday, the IDF expanded Operation Defensive Shield beyond Ramallah and entered Kalkilya, Tulkarem and Bethlehem in order to eradicate terrorist infrastructures.

Currently, IDF forces are deployed in the central area of Tulkarem where they are locating terrorists, carrying out searches for weapons and effectively depriving terrorists of the ability to exploit the refugee camps as hideouts. Tulkarem is a focal point for terrorist activity and has been used as a point of departure for numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens, such as the Passover Massacre (March 27, 2002) in which 22 civilians were killed and 170 wounded.

In Bethlehem, IDF regular and reserve forces have assumed dominant positions, arrested wanted Palestinian terrorists and searched houses for weapons. These actions are aimed at crippling the local terrorist infrastructure and disrupting hostile terrorist activity.

The IDF forces are also operating in the area of the Palestinian Counter Intelligence Agency building in Bitunya. During the last three days, IDF forces have avoided entering the building despite clear evidence that wanted terrorists are hiding inside. These terrorists are responsible for a number of recent attacks, which have taken the lives of 48 civilians and wounded over 250, including many children.

Operation Defensive Shield is a direct response to Palestinian terrorism. Those claiming that Palestinian terrorist attacks are merely a response to IDF operations have conveniently forgotten that Palestinian suicide bombings were implemented throughout Israel during the height of the peace process in 1995 and 1996. Moreover, throughout the last 18 months, Israel’s policy of restraint has been met with increased Palestinian terrorism. The Palestinians responded to Israel’s implementation of a unilateral ceasefire in May 2001 with a massacre of Israeli teenagers at the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv (June 1, 2001). When Israel implemented another ceasefire last week (March 27, 2002), Palestinian terrorists massacred Israelis celebrating Passover at a hotel in Netanya.

When viewing IDF operations, it is essential to realize that Arafat is not the victim, but the perpetrator of terrorism. The true victims are the hundreds of innocents slaughtered by his men. Yet, Israel has no intention of harming Yasser Arafat or PA Preventive Security Chief in the West Bank, Jibril Rajoub. Israel simply seeks the arrest of the senior terrorist leaders who have taken refuge in Arafat's compound in Ramallah and Jibril Rajoub's security headquarters in Bitounia.

In the past month, Palestinian terrorists murdered 124 Israelis. Twelve of these victims were children, and three of them were toddlers. Thirty-seven of the victims were women, and nineteen were elderly. The terrorists destroyed entire families, such as in the Nehmad family who lost their father, mother and two children in the suicide bombing in the neighborhood of Beit Yisrael, Jerusalem, (March 2, 2002).

Israel has given its full support to the visit of General Zinni. Israel has made numerous concessions, including waiving the requirement for seven days of calm prior to negotiations. The Palestinian response, however, has been an escalation of terrorist activity.

Background on Tulkarem's Terrorist Infrastructure

Official Statement by Magen David Adom on the Palestinian terrorists use of Red Crescent Ambulances

Sincerely,

Moshe Fox

Minister of Public Affairs

Embassy of Israel