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Three Israelis killed in ambush near Ofra
JPost Reg reqâd EFLPalestinians opened fire from very close range on a group of Israelis travelling on Road 60 near the settlement of Ofra north of Ramallah, killing three Israelis and wounding one other. Magen David Adom said three Israelis were killed and another was moderately wounded in the attack, which occured at around 7PM near to the settlement of Ofra and the Arab village of Ein Yabrud. Media reports point to the possibility that the shots came from the Arab village. No!! Ein Yarub has been sealed, as have all roads leading into and out of the area. After most attacks in the area, the terrorists flee into Ramallah, Israel Radio reported. Ramallah, Israel Radio reported that Palestinians opened "massive" fire on the Israeli car, and also threw grenades in what appears to be an ambush. Other reports said that the Israeli car was fired on by a passing car. The wounded were being treated by Magen David Adom at the scene, and the three Israelis killed were pronounced dead at the scene. Helicopters have taked the wounded Israeli to a hospital in Jerusalem. Security forces have arrived in the area and are conducting searches for the perpetrators in the surrounding Arab villages. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. In the past, gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to Palestinian President Yasser Arafatâs Fatah movement, have been active in the area, which is near the town of Ramallah, where Arafat has his headquarters. Sheer coincidence Military sources said there was no specific terror warning for the Ofra area. The sources said Fatah The area has been the scene of repeated Palestinian gunfire attacks at Israeli vehicles during three years of fighting. Chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza Pinchas Wallerstein said all the attacks on Road 60 in the past "emanated from the Muqata [Arafatâs Ramallah compound]." Meanwhile, five reservist batallions will be deployed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the framework of a limited mobilization of reservists who received call up notices during the Succot week as part of an effort to beef up the security presence in the Territories due to the ongoing violence. Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-19 |
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