The latest Palestinian “martyrdom” operation in Jerusalem, which resulted in 11 deaths and scores of injuries, is being described by the Egyptian government-sponsored daily newspaper as “a heroic operation.”
The official Al-Akhbar newspaper, in a Tuesday editorial titled “Advice to General Zinni on his New Mission,” said:
“The heroic operation carried out by the military arm of the Hamas movement, the ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, in West Jerusalem is an important turning point in Palestinian resistance activities.
“This is because it was 50 meters away from the official residence of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in one of the most [heavily] defended areas in Israel. This means that the resistance movements have developed and are capable of striking painfully at Israel, even close to the homes of the leaders of the bloodthirsty Israeli regime.”
Last Saturday’s “martyrdom” operation was carried out by a Palestinian suicide bomber at a popular caf? in Jerusalem, called Moment, where the bomber blew himself up in the courtyard entryway. According to a Washington Post account, the blast “litter[ed] the area with bodies and blood. Blood was visible 12 feet high, on the eaves of the caf? entrance just above the door. More than 50 people were injured.”
Although the caf? is a block from Sharon’s official residence, Sharon was at his farm in southern Israel where he spends most of his weekends.
On the same day, Palestinian gunmen killed 2 Israelis and injured many others in a shooting attack at two hotels near the beach in the Israeli coastal resort of Netanya.
Here are excerpts from the Al-Akhbar editorial, as translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI, an independent, non-profit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East:
- Maybe this operation did not [cause] the most bloodshed, but the important point here is the site where it was carried out. The target was a well-known caf? near Sharon’s residence. This was a direct message to the Israeli leadership: The Palestinians, who have nothing to lose, are capable of making horror the Israelis’ daily bread.
This message has two parts. The first part is that if Israel can get to Arafat and turn his Gaza headquarters to ruins, the resistance can reach the residence of the blood-shedder Sharon. The second part of the message is that there is no safe place left for Israelis. …
Despite this picture, Sharon still, in his stupidity, persists with a military solution, continuing to attack while disregarding all international counsel. Thus, the region has entered an equation with only two solutions: Either Sharon succeeds in setting off the powder keg in the Middle East, or influential international bodies, led by the U.S., the EU and Russia, intervene to stop the insane Israeli war …
We hope that the Bush administration will translate [into practice] the positive declarations stating that Sharon’s terrorist attacks on the Palestinian people will lead only to more bloodshed. Everyone understands that President Mubarak’s efforts have made Bush aware of the failure of the [non-intervention] strategy he declared when he took office …
But the dangerous state the conflict has reached proves the justice of President Mubarak’s approach: He warned of the possibility that the conflict could get out of control and threaten not only the Middle East but also international security and peace.
We hope that Zinni … will keep this advice in mind.
Like Jerusalem, Washington needs a Dung Gate
Siegfried Johnson